Our Favorite Voting Rights Resources

The original Constitution did not specifically protect the right to vote—leaving the issue largely to the states to decide. For much of American history, this right has often been granted to some, but denied to others; however, through a series of amendments to the Constitution, the right to vote has expanded over time.

Live from the Museum: Voting Rights

Tuesday, October 3 | Noon ET



Join us live from our main exhibit, The Story of We the People, for a virtual tour of voting rights. We’ll look at what the Constitution says about voting rights, how these rights have changed over time, concluding with an insider look at the different ways in which people have cast their ballots over the centuries and current voting systems today.

Civic Stories: Who Can Vote?

Friday, October 13 | Noon ET



Join us for a crash course in voting rights throughout history. Students will take a look at voting rights in early America, how these rights changed over time, and discover the inspiring stories of historic figures who insisted on equality at the ballot box for all.

Designed for younger learners, Civic Stories bring fun and enriching content to your classroom.

Primary Text: We Are All Bound Up Together (1866)

During Reconstruction, suffragists and their abolitionist allies worked together to promote a vision of universal voting rights. A key figure in this fight was Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

Gaining prominence as a poet and writer, she spoke at the 1866 National Woman’s Rights Convention. There, she advanced a broad vision of universal rights: “We are all bound up together in one great bundle of humanity, and society cannot trample on the weakest and feeblest of its members without receiving a curse in its own soul.”

Search the Founders’ Library for texts that have shaped the American constitutional tradition. The Supreme Court Cases Library includes materials on the most influential Supreme Court cases in American history. Discover landmark cases that impacted voting rights like Shelby County v. Holder, Minor v. Happersett, Reynolds v. Sims, and more.

Podcast: The Story of the 26th Amendment

The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18. This episode of We the People tells the fascinating story of the amendment—sparked by two wars and the idea of “old enough to fight, old enough to vote,” principally designed by two senators, and advocated for by countless young people, students, and civil rights activists.

Our podcasts allow listeners to hear the best arguments on all sides of the constitutional issues at the center of American life. Listen now.

Video: Voting Rights

Explore the constitutional amendments that address elections, the qualifications for voting, and protections offered to voters. Take a look at the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments, the history of voting in America, Supreme Court cases, and measures that ensure voters can vote without discrimination based on property ownership, race, sex, and age.

Explore Constitution 101, a 15-unit asynchronous curriculum that provides students with a basic understanding of the Constitution’s text, history, structure, and caselaw.

Exhibit Interactive: The Awakening Map

Explore this interactive map to discover how women’s suffrage at the state level paved the way for the 19th Amendment. Select a state to see how local victories—and failures—led to national change.

Artifact Spotlight: Ballot Box



During the late 1800s, some states allowed women to vote in local elections but not in state or federal ones. Women were instructed to place their ballots in separate boxes—like this one from the town of Elwood, Missouri—to ensure they didn’t vote in any other race. See this artifact and more in the online exhibit of the Center’s The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote.

Professional Learning for Educators

Principles of the American Revolution and the U.S. Constitution

Wednesday, October 18 | 6:30 - 8 p.m ET

In this session, participants examine the form of government established by the Constitution and its key ideas. This includes a study of natural rights, the rule of law, and popular sovereignty. We will look at primary sources from the founding era to examine how they set the foundation for American democracy.

More From the National Constitution Center

2023 Liberty Medal Ceremony

Friday, October 27 | 6:30 p.m. ET

The National Constitution Center will honor Judy Woodruff and David Rubenstein at the 35th annual Liberty Medal ceremony for their inspiring work in modeling and promoting civil dialogue about the shared values of liberty that unite Americans. The Liberty Medal ceremony will take place on October 27, 2023, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Thank you for being part of our community of educators. If you have any questions we’d love to hear from you. Please email the education team at [email protected].

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