The Civil Rights Act of 1960 established federal inspection of local voter registration rolls and introduced penalties for anyone who obstructed someone's attempt to register to vote or actually vote.

It was signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower on May 6, 1960.

In spite of the two Eisenhower civil rights acts (see: Civil Rights Act of 1957), only an extra 3% black voters were added to the electoral roll for the 1960 election . Neither is considered significant legislation, and they did little to impress civil rights leaders.