Final answer:
Voting qualifications for national elections have been changed by constitutional amendments such as the 24th, which eliminated poll taxes, and the 26th, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. These amendments, along with legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965, were critical in removing barriers to voting for disenfranchised groups. Option c is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The qualifications for voting in national elections in the United States have evolved over time through several constitutional amendments designed to make the process more inclusive and fair. Specifically, the Twenty-Sixth Amendment made a significant change by lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years. This change was motivated by the circumstances of the Vietnam War, where it was argued that young citizens who were eligible for the draft at the age of 18 should also have the right to participate in electing the leaders who make decisions about war and national policy.
The comprehensive amendments to the US Constitution have progressively eliminated many restrictive barriers that once limited the electorate. For instance, the Twenty-Fourth Amendment, ratified in 1964, abolished poll taxes in federal elections; a practice that had been used in some southern states to prevent poor African Americans from voting.
It is essential to recognize that throughout American history, barriers like literacy tests, poll taxes, and other methods like the grandfather clause were utilized to disenfranchise certain groups, particularly African Americans. The adoption of the Twenty-Fourth Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were instrumental in removing these barriers and protecting the right to vote.