The pivotal legislation in 1965 aimed at eliminating barriers to voting for American citizens is the Voting Rights Act. This landmark law was enacted to address the systemic disenfranchisement of African American voters, particularly in the southern states. It prohibited practices like literacy tests and poll taxes that had been used to suppress minority voter participation. Furthermore, the act provided for federal oversight of voter registration and elections in jurisdictions with histories of discrimination. Its passage marked a significant victory for the civil rights movement, helping to ensure that all Americans could exercise their right to vote.