| Date(s) | Topic | Impact | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1787 | United States Constitution Elections Clause |
Established responsibility for elections |
Wikipedia Article I Section 4 Clause 1 |
| 1793 | Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 | Guaranteed a right for a slaveholder to recover an escaped slave. Later superseded by the 13th Amendment. | Wikipedia |
| 1850 | Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 | Required that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to the slave-owner. Led to the founding of the Republican Party and the start of the American Civil War | Wikipedia |
| 1857 | Dred Scott | SCOTUS decision that black African Americans were not citizens | Wikipedia |
| 1865 | 13th Amendment to the Constitution | Made slavery illegal | Wikipedia |
| 1868 | 14th Amendment to the Constitution | Reversed the SCOTUS Dred Scott decision | Wikipedia |
| 1870 | 15th Amendment to the Constitution | Prohibited denying right to vote based on race | Wikipedia |
| 1924 | Indian Citizenship Act | Declared Native Americans born within the United States are US citizens | Wikipedia | 1920 | 19th Amendment to the Constitution | Established women's right to vote | Wikipedia |
| 1964 | Civil Rights Act of 1964 | Established election standards |
Wikipedia National Archives Public Law 88-352 |
| 1965 | Voting Rights Act of 1965 | Enforced voting rights protected by the 14th and 15th Amendments |
Wikipedia National Archives Public Law 89-110 |
| 1971 | 26th Amendment to the Constitution | Lowered the voting age for all Americans from 21 to 18 years |
Wikipedia Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum |
| 1984 | Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (VAEHA) | Mandated easy registration and voting access for handicapped and elderly persons |
Wikipedia Public Law 98-435 |
| 1986 | Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) | Established registration and voting standards for military and overseas citizens |
Wikipedia Public Law 99-410 |
| 1990 | Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 | Protected against registration and voting discrimination of persons with disabilities |
Wikipedia Public Law 101-336 |
| 1993 | National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 aka Motor Voter Law |
Required simplified registration processes |
Wikipedia Public Law 103-31 |
| 2001 | Carter/Ford Recommendations for Improving America's Election Systems | Recommended modernization and overhaul the election process |
Wikipedia Election Reform: An Analysis of Proposals and the Commission's Recommendations for Improving America's Election System |
| 2002 | Help America Vote Act (HAVA) | Replaced unreliable voting systems, and establishes minimum election administration standards |
Wikipedia Public Law 107-252 |
| 2004 to 2005 | Carter/Baker Commission on Federal Election Reform | Recommended widespread overhaul of election practices |
Wikipedia Los Angeles Times Building Confidence in U.S. Elections |
| 2005 to 2019 | Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck (IVRC or Crosscheck) | Pilot National Voter Registration Database, to detect duplicate registrations. Discontinued due to inaccuracy/privacy concerns |
Wikipedia |
| 2012 to present | Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) | Pilot National Voter Registration Database, to detect duplicate registrations. States dropping due to partisan activities, ineffective, low impact |
Wikipedia |
| 2013 to 2014 | Bauer/Ginsberg Presidential Commission on Election Administration | Recommended modernization and overhaul of the outdated election process |
Wikipedia Executive Order 13639 The American Voting Experience: Report and Recommendations of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration |
| 2017 to 2018 | Pence/Kobach Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity (PEIC or PACEI) aka Voter Fraud Commission |
Disbanded when many States refused to turn over information |
Wikipedia Executive Order 13799 |
| 2021 | The President’s Advisory 1776 Commission | An advisory committee established to support patriotic education. Report was published in 2021, the Commission deactivated, then reactivated in 2025. |
Wikipedia The President’s Advisory 1776 Commission |
| 2025 | Holding Former Government Officials Accountable for Election Interference and Improper Disclosure of Sensitive Governmental Information | Revoked security clearances of persons who weaponized information to interfere with elections | Executive Order 14152 |
| 2025 | Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections | Requires proof of citizenship to vote, paper ballots, strengthens fraud prevention and conviction | Executive Order 14248 |
| 2025 | Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act aka SAVE Act |
Passed by the House but stalled in the Senate. Would have required proof of citizenship to vote in elections for Federal office | SAVE Act |
| 2026 | Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act aka SAVE America Act |
If enacted, will require proof of US citizenship to register to vote in elections for Federal office, and photo ID when voting. Currently passed by the House; under consideration by the Senate. | SAVE America Act |