<P> Eligibility to vote in the United States is established both through the federal constitution and by state law . Several constitutional amendments ( the 15th , 19th , and 26th specifically ) require that voting rights can not be abridged on account of race , color , previous condition of servitude , sex , or age for those above 18 ; the constitution as originally written did not establish any such rights during 1787 -- 1870 . In the absence of a specific federal law or constitutional provision , each state is given considerable discretion to establish qualifications for suffrage and candidacy within its own respective jurisdiction ; in addition , states and lower level jurisdictions establish election systems , such as at - large or single member district elections for county councils or school boards . </P>
<P> Eligibility to vote in the United States is established both through the federal constitution and by state law . Several constitutional amendments ( the 15th , 19th , and 26th specifically ) require that voting rights can not be abridged on account of race , color , previous condition of servitude , sex , or age for those above 18 ; the constitution as originally written did not establish any such rights during 1787 -- 1870 . In the absence of a specific federal law or constitutional provision , each state is given considerable discretion to establish qualifications for suffrage and candidacy within its own respective jurisdiction ; in addition , states and lower level jurisdictions establish election systems , such as at - large or single member district elections for county councils or school boards . </P>
when did all men get the right to vote
when did all men get the right to vote
1787 -- 1870
1787 -- 1870