Which of the following was a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

The provision that prohibited racial discrimination in voting is a cornerstone of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This landmark legislation aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed by the 15th Amendment. Key features of the act included the banning of literacy tests and other discriminatory practices that were often used to disenfranchise voters based on race. It also provided for federal oversight and monitoring of voter registration and elections in jurisdictions with a history of discriminatory practices, ensuring that African Americans and other marginalized groups could participate fully in the electoral process.

While other options address important issues, they do not pertain to the specific provisions of the Voting Rights Act. For example, establishing a national minimum wage and granting women the right to vote were significant legislative actions but occurred under different contexts and timelines. Bilingual ballots pertain to language accessibility in voting, which, while important, is not a central provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Overall, the act's primary focus was on protecting the voting rights of all citizens, particularly those who had been historically marginalized.