| | Cotton was a strong supporter of [[civil rights]], voting in favor of the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[1957 Civil Rights Act|1957]]<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> and 1960.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/s284 HR. 8601. PASSAGE OF AMENDED BILL.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> However, like fellow Republican senators [[Barry Goldwater]] and [[Bourke Hickenlooper]], he voted against the final passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s409 HR. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> over concerns that it would excessively expand the size and scope of the federal government beyond the parameters designated by the [[Constitution]].<ref>[https://www.unh.edu/inquiryjournal/spring-2017/pragmatism-politics-senator-norris-cotton-and-civil-rights-legislation-1960s The Pragmatism of Politics: Senator Norris Cotton and the Civil Rights Legislation in the 1960s]. ''University of New Hampshire''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> However, Cotton did vote in favor of invoking cloture to end the Southern Democrat filibuster of the landmark legislation.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s302 HR. 7152. MANSFIELD DIRKSEN MOTION THAT THE SENATE INVOKE CLOTURE ON THE SOUTHERN FILIBUSTER.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> | | Cotton was a strong supporter of [[civil rights]], voting in favor of the [[Civil Rights Act]]s of [[1957 Civil Rights Act|1957]]<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/s75 HR. 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> and 1960.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/s284 HR. 8601. PASSAGE OF AMENDED BILL.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> However, like fellow Republican senators [[Barry Goldwater]] and [[Bourke Hickenlooper]], he voted against the final passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s409 HR. 7152. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> over concerns that it would excessively expand the size and scope of the federal government beyond the parameters designated by the [[Constitution]].<ref>[https://www.unh.edu/inquiryjournal/spring-2017/pragmatism-politics-senator-norris-cotton-and-civil-rights-legislation-1960s The Pragmatism of Politics: Senator Norris Cotton and the Civil Rights Legislation in the 1960s]. ''University of New Hampshire''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> However, Cotton did vote in favor of invoking cloture to end the Southern Democrat filibuster of the landmark legislation.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/88-1964/s302 HR. 7152. MANSFIELD DIRKSEN MOTION THAT THE SENATE INVOKE CLOTURE ON THE SOUTHERN FILIBUSTER.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved February 19, 2021.</ref> |
| − | Cotton voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1968/s346 TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING, AND TO PROHIBIT RACIALLY MOTIVATED INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON EXERCISING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 8, 2021.</ref> | + | Cotton voted in favor of the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]]<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/89-1965/s78 TO PASS S. 1564, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 9, 2021.</ref> and the Civil Rights Act of 1968.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1968/s346 TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING, AND TO PROHIBIT RACIALLY MOTIVATED INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON EXERCISING HIS CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved May 8, 2021.</ref> |