Legal Definitions - Twenty-third Amendment

The Twenty-third Amendment is a change to the United States Constitution that was ratified in 1961. This amendment gives people who live in the District of Columbia the right to vote in presidential elections.

Before this amendment was passed, people who lived in Washington, D.C. did not have a say in who became the President of the United States. This was because Washington, D.C. is not a state, but a special area that is controlled by the federal government.

For example, if someone lived in Washington, D.C. in 1956, they would not have been able to vote for President Eisenhower. But after the Twenty-third Amendment was passed, they would have been able to vote for President Kennedy in 1960.

The Twenty-third Amendment is important because it gives people who live in Washington, D.C. the same right to vote in presidential elections as people who live in the 50 states. This helps to make sure that everyone's voice is heard when it comes to choosing the leader of our country.