Blacks and the Right to Vote

Blacks | felons | and the right to vote. What's changed and what's stayed the same? Get the history plus photos on BET.com.

Registering - With Presidential Election Day falling on Nov. 4, the last day to register in most states is Monday, Oct. 6. Check your state or town’s voting office for more specific details or get the forms at BET.com (see below).

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Registering - With Presidential Election Day falling on Nov. 4, the last day to register in most states is Monday, Oct. 6. Check your state or town’s voting office for more specific details or get the forms at BET.com (see below).

Student Loan Relief - Future student loan borrowers have some relief, due to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, passed in March. Students enrolling in 2014 or later can limit their payments to 10 percent of their income and have the debt forgiven after 20 years (10 years for public service workers).

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The Youth Vote - It’s estimated that between 7.5-8 million African Americans are eligible to vote aren’t registered to vote. The largest block of unregistered Black voters are between the ages of 25 – 44.

Behind Bars - According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the current patchwork of state felony disenfranchisement laws prevent 5.3 million citizens with past felony convictions from voting. About 13 percent of these citizens are Black men.

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Behind Bars - According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the current patchwork of state felony disenfranchisement laws prevent 5.3 million citizens with past felony convictions from voting. About 13 percent of these citizens are Black men.

Behind Bars - In most states, but not all, convicted felons can apply to have their voting rights restored once they have completed all terms and conditions of their post prison release probation and any fines imposed have been paid.

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Behind Bars - In most states, but not all, convicted felons can apply to have their voting rights restored once they have completed all terms and conditions of their post prison release probation and any fines imposed have been paid.

Voting Rights - A few organizations to help felons restore their voting rights include the NAACP, the ACLU and the National Organization for Rehabilitated Offenders.

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Voting Rights - A few organizations to help felons restore their voting rights include the NAACP, the ACLU and the National Organization for Rehabilitated Offenders.

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Behind Bars - While it’s possible for convicted felons to regain voting rights, many states ban convicted felons from being able to be elected for public office or serve on jury duty.

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Behind Bars - While it’s possible for convicted felons to regain voting rights, many states ban convicted felons from being able to be elected for public office or serve on jury duty.

Unfair? - Some people believe a flaw in the U.S. Census, which attempts to count every person in the United States where they are living at the time of the count, allows prisons to unfairly influence elections and the allocation of millions of dollars in Federal aid. People incarcerated are not allowed to vote, but they are counted in census data collection efforts.

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Unfair? - Some people believe a flaw in the U.S. Census, which attempts to count every person in the United States where they are living at the time of the count, allows prisons to unfairly influence elections and the allocation of millions of dollars in Federal aid. People incarcerated are not allowed to vote, but they are counted in census data collection efforts.

History - With the passage of the 15th amendment in 1870 Black men technically gained the right to vote.

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History - With the passage of the 15th amendment in 1870 Black men technically gained the right to vote.

Limited Rights - While The 15th Amendment gave Black men the right to vote, in many ways it was a symbolic measure because several years would pass before Black men and women would be able to vote freely.  That occurred with the adoption of the 24th Amendment and the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1965.

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Limited Rights - While The 15th Amendment gave Black men the right to vote, in many ways it was a symbolic measure because several years would pass before Black men and women would be able to vote freely. That occurred with the adoption of the 24th Amendment and the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1965.

Kept From Voting - The first Black voters were discouraged from doing so. Methods from imposing poll taxes that most Blacks couldn't afford and imposing literacy tests that most Blacks couldn’t pass, and attacks against Blacks who still tried to vote hampered early efforts for Blacks to exercise their right to vote.

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Kept From Voting - The first Black voters were discouraged from doing so. Methods from imposing poll taxes that most Blacks couldn't afford and imposing literacy tests that most Blacks couldn’t pass, and attacks against Blacks who still tried to vote hampered early efforts for Blacks to exercise their right to vote.

The Felon Vote - While most states allow convicted felons to vote after they serve their sentences, two states - Kentucky and Virginia - take away their voting rights forever.

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The Felon Vote - While most states allow convicted felons to vote after they serve their sentences, two states - Kentucky and Virginia - take away their voting rights forever.