What year did the Voting Rights Act get passed?

The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965 and is considered a landmark piece of legislation in the United States. This act aimed to eliminate various forms of institutionalized racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the Southern states. It was a significant achievement of the Civil Rights Movement and stemmed from growing demands for equal voting rights, highlighted by events like the Selma to Montgomery marches earlier that year. The act effectively prohibited discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and provided for federal oversight of voter registration in areas where minorities had been historically disenfranchised. This legislation marked a critical step in ensuring that all American citizens had the right to vote, thereby reinforcing democratic principles in the country.