Voting and sex
Prohibits federal and state denial of voting rights because of sex.
In Simple, Modern English
The United States and states cannot deny or restrict a U.S. citizen's right to vote because of sex. Congress may enforce this protection through appropriate laws.
Important Clauses & Details
Voting protection
Government cannot use a citizen's sex as a reason to deny or abridge voting rights.
Enforcement power
Congress has authority to enact appropriate laws to make the constitutional protection effective.
Why It Was Added
Generations of suffragists organized petitions, campaigns, protests, and state-level reforms. Some women could already vote under state law; the amendment established a national constitutional rule against sex-based disenfranchisement.
Ratification did not remove all barriers for all women. Racial discrimination, citizenship exclusions, and other obstacles continued. This is a voting amendment, not a general equality clause for every legal subject.
Plain-English study paraphrases summarize the text; they are not verbatim translations. Historical provisions and later changes are identified above. Sources: National Archives and Constitution Annotated.