Simone Lawson
The Twenty-fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, also known as Amendment XXIV, outlawed voting fees, or poll taxes, in federal elections. The amendment was proposed by Congress to the states on August 27, 1962, and was ratified on January 23, 1964. The Twenty-fourth Amendment abolished poll taxes as a qualification for voting in federal elections and prohibited states from requiring the payment of any tax as a condition for voting in these elections. This amendment was a significant step in the pursuit of civil rights and addressed the discriminatory impact of poll taxes, which disproportionately affected African Americans and poor whites in the Southern states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Amendment | Twenty-fourth Amendment (Amendment XXIV) |
| Date proposed by Congress | August 27, 1962 |
| Date ratified by states | January 23, 1964 |
| Number of states that ratified the amendment | 38 |
| Number of states that rejected the amendment | 1 (Mississippi) |
| Number of states that maintained poll taxes after the amendment | 5 |
| Date poll taxes were completely eliminated | 1966 |
| Supreme Court decision that ruled poll taxes unconstitutional | Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections |
| Date of previous Supreme Court decision that upheld poll taxes | 1937 |
| Case name of previous Supreme Court decision | Breedlove v. Suttles |
| Purpose of poll taxes | To prevent African Americans and poor whites from voting |
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What You'll Learn
The Twenty-Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution
The poll tax was used in some states to restrict voting rights, particularly those of African Americans in the South. The Twenty-Fourth Amendment prohibits both Congress and the states from requiring the payment of a poll tax or any other tax as a qualification for voting in federal elections. It states that the right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President, Vice President, or for Congress members shall not be denied or abridged by the failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.
The amendment was proposed by Congress to the states on August 27, 1962, and ratified on January 23, 1964, marking the culmination of an endeavor begun in Congress in 1939 to eliminate the poll tax as a voting qualification. At the time of ratification, five states still retained the poll tax: Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia.
The Twenty-Fourth Amendment was passed in the same year as the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed all forms of discrimination across the United States, effectively ending the era of legal segregation. The following year, in 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed, eliminating all forms of discrimination in voting for all American men and women, making voting a constitutional right for all.
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Poll tax as a voting requirement
The poll tax was a voting requirement in the United States, particularly in the South, where it was used as a tool to restrict voting rights. The tax was levied as a prerequisite for voting, with proof of payment required for voter registration. This measure disproportionately affected African Americans, who were the original targets of this form of voter suppression. However, it also impacted other racial groups, including poor whites, Native Americans, and Asian Americans.
The poll tax, a fixed amount imposed on every liable individual regardless of income, was a significant source of government funding in the colonies and states that formed the United States. After the Reconstruction era (1865-1877), southern states adopted poll taxes as a means to disenfranchise African Americans, taking advantage of the loophole in the 15th Amendment, which granted voting rights regardless of race. While the poll tax requirements applied to all citizens, it particularly affected those who were economically disadvantaged, creating a financial barrier to voting.
In states like Alabama, the poll tax also discriminated against white women, who organized groups like the Women's Joint Legislative Council of Alabama (WJLC) to secure their voting rights. African American women, such as Lottie Polk Gaffney, who sued the South Carolina Cherokee County Registration Board with the help of the NAACP, also actively fought against being denied their voting rights.
The 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified on January 23, 1964, outlawed the imposition of poll taxes as a voting requirement in federal elections. It guaranteed that citizens' right to vote in federal elections "shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax." The following year, in 1965, the Voting Rights Act further solidified voting rights by making the imposition of poll taxes as a prerequisite for voting illegal under federal law. This act, along with the 24th Amendment, played a pivotal role in ending voting discrimination and ensuring that voting became a constitutional right for all Americans, regardless of race, colour, or economic status.
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Voting discrimination
The 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified on January 23, 1964, abolished poll taxes, which required voters to pay a fee to enter polling places and cast their ballots. This amendment ensured that the right to vote in elections for President, Vice President, or Congress could not be denied or abridged due to the failure to pay poll taxes or other taxes.
While the 15th Amendment granted all American men the right to vote, African Americans in the South still faced discriminatory laws and technicalities that restricted their voting rights. The 24th Amendment was passed in 1964, coinciding with the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed all forms of discrimination in the U.S. and ended the era of legal segregation.
Despite these advancements, voting discrimination against marginalized groups, particularly racial minorities, has persisted in various forms. In the years since the Shelby County v. Holder case, where the Supreme Court struck down the "preclearance" requirement of the Voting Rights Act, states have enacted numerous restrictive voting laws that disproportionately impact voters of color. These discriminatory efforts include strict photo ID requirements, restraints on voter registration, voter purges, reduced early voting opportunities, and closures of polling places.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) emphasizes the critical role of equal access to voting in achieving systemic equality. They advocate for fairer voting maps and fight against discriminatory voting practices through litigation and advocacy. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and federal laws prohibit racially discriminatory voting tactics and policies, but ongoing efforts are needed to address the persistent discrimination faced by Black voters and communities of color.
To address voting discrimination, individuals can take action by immediately reporting instances of discrimination to local voting officials, contacting the nearest U.S. Attorney's Office, or writing to the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. These actions empower citizens to defend their right to vote and promote equal access to the ballot box, ensuring that voting remains a fundamental right for all eligible citizens.
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Federal elections
The 24th Amendment to the US Constitution, which was passed by Congress in 1962 and ratified on 23 January 1964, outlawed the use of poll taxes in federal elections.
The Amendment was proposed by Congress to the states on 27 August 1962 and was ratified by the required 38 states in January 1964. The official text of the Amendment states:
> The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
The poll tax was one of the Jim Crow laws in the post-Reconstruction South that tried to disenfranchise black voters. It was imposed on voters in both state and federal elections to prevent low-income Americans, particularly African Americans, from exercising their right to vote. The 15th Amendment, passed in 1870, granted the right to vote to all male citizens regardless of their ethnicity or prior slave status. However, African Americans in the South were met with several types of laws that restricted voting due to technicalities that ranged from arbitrary to openly discriminatory. One of the many discriminatory methods was the poll tax, which required voters to pay a fee to enter the polling places to cast their ballots. Due to the disproportionate levels of poverty among African Americans in the Southern states, many of them, as well as poor whites, were excluded from voting.
In the 1965 Supreme Court decision Harman v. Forssenius, the Court unanimously found such measures unconstitutional and declared that for federal elections, "the poll tax is abolished absolutely as a prerequisite to voting, and no equivalent or milder substitute may be imposed."
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State constitutions
The Twenty-fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which was ratified on January 23, 1964, outlawed voting fees. Despite this, several states continued to impose poll taxes in defiance of the new law. These poll taxes were finally eliminated after the 1966 Supreme Court decision in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, which ruled that poll taxes were unconstitutional in all federal, state, and local elections.
Additionally, some state constitutions address partisan gerrymandering by including provisions to eliminate qualitative vote dilution based on political affiliation. While the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that federal courts do not have jurisdiction over partisan gerrymandering claims under the U.S. Constitution, state courts have asserted their jurisdiction in such matters. For example, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that a state legislative map violated provisions of the state charter requiring elections to be "free and equal." New Mexico's Supreme Court also concluded that it has jurisdiction to hear partisan gerrymandering claims, citing the state's Equal Protection Clause.
Furthermore, state constitutions can influence voter ID laws, as each state sets its own rules regarding voter identification. Most states require voters to present identification when voting in person. It is important for individuals to be aware of the specific voter ID laws in their state before casting their ballots.
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Frequently asked questions
The Twenty-fourth Amendment of the US Constitution outlawed voting fees.
The poll tax was adopted in the Southern states to prevent African Americans from voting without violating the Fifteenth Amendment. In practice, it also prevented poor white people from voting.
The Twenty-fourth Amendment was ratified on January 23, 1964.
