<P> As originally enacted , the Voting Rights Act also suspended the use of literacy tests in all jurisdictions in which less than 50 % of voting - age residents were registered as of November 1 , 1964 , or had voted in the 1964 presidential election . In 1970 , Congress amended the Act and expanded the ban on literacy tests to the entire country . The Supreme Court then upheld the ban as constitutional in Oregon v. Mitchell ( 1970 ) , but just for federal elections . The Court was deeply divided in this case , and a majority of justices did not agree on a rationale for the holding . </P>
<P> As originally enacted , the Voting Rights Act also suspended the use of literacy tests in all jurisdictions in which less than 50 % of voting - age residents were registered as of November 1 , 1964 , or had voted in the 1964 presidential election . In 1970 , Congress amended the Act and expanded the ban on literacy tests to the entire country . The Supreme Court then upheld the ban as constitutional in Oregon v. Mitchell ( 1970 ) , but just for federal elections . The Court was deeply divided in this case , and a majority of justices did not agree on a rationale for the holding . </P>
when did congress outlaw literacy tests altogether as a prerequisite to voter registration
when did congress outlaw literacy tests altogether as a prerequisite to voter registration
1970
1970