What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965? What South Carolinians need to know

In 1965, Congress passed landmark civil rights legislation to stop racial discrimination in voting; part of the law could be in jeopardy through a case heard by the Supreme Court on Oct. 15.

When Congress first passed this legislation, only six members of the U.S. House were Black. Today, there are 10 times as many Black lawmakers, a share of the House on par with the total share of Black Americans.