Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects citizens from voter discrimination based on race?

The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution specifically prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Ratified in 1870, this amendment was a significant milestone in the Reconstruction Era, as it aimed to ensure that newly freed African American men could participate in the electoral process. By enshrining this protection in the Constitution, the amendment sought to combat racial discrimination in voting, which had been a pervasive issue in the United States, particularly in the Southern states.

In contrast, the other amendments listed serve different purposes: the 12th Amendment addresses the electoral college process, the 19th Amendment grants women the right to vote, and the 24th Amendment prohibits poll taxes in federal elections, which were used to disenfranchise poor voters, including many African Americans. Each of these amendments plays a role in expanding voting rights, but only the 15th Amendment directly addresses racial discrimination in voting.