Here's my basic idea: Another Reconstruction Amendment is pushed through by the Radical Republicans that tweaks the formula for congressional representation. Rather than basing a state's representation on pure numbers, its based on the number of active voters (in congressional elections) over the last 10 years.
As long as states are operating under the same general voting laws, this shouldn't change much at all, since, overall, the ratio of voters to general population should remain relatively consistent (I'm basing this on no hard evidence).
However, any states that attempt to restrict voting through poll taxes and literacy tests and the like will have their political voice proportionately diminished.
This could cause complications regarding women's suffrage in a few decades (it could effectively double a state's representation if they're on the leading edge), or it could simply speed the process along. There also could be further complications with voter fraud (I'm picturing Tammany Hall having a field day with this).
As long as states are operating under the same general voting laws, this shouldn't change much at all, since, overall, the ratio of voters to general population should remain relatively consistent (I'm basing this on no hard evidence).
However, any states that attempt to restrict voting through poll taxes and literacy tests and the like will have their political voice proportionately diminished.
This could cause complications regarding women's suffrage in a few decades (it could effectively double a state's representation if they're on the leading edge), or it could simply speed the process along. There also could be further complications with voter fraud (I'm picturing Tammany Hall having a field day with this).