In 1964 the Twenty-fourth Amendment prohibited the use of poll taxes. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act directed the Attorney General to enforce the right to vote for African Americans. The 1965 Voting Rights Act created a significant change in the status of African Americans throughout the South.
Poll taxes arose in some southern states following the end of the Civil War and the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution in 1870. That amendment extended the right to vote to all male citizens, regardless of race or color. The poll tax laws generally did not specify that citizens of a certain race had to pay the levy. However, they were written in such a way that, while technically they applied to all voters, "grandfather" exemptions were offered to those who could demonstrate that they or their fathers or grandfathers had voted in elections during and prior to the Civil War. Obviously, since blacks and native Americans could not legally vote in those states before 1870, they were excluded en masse from the "grandfather" exemptions.
The last of these state poll taxes -- Mississippi's -- was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 1966.
They keeped many African Americans from voting.
They limited the number of people to those who could afford to vote.
The blacks couldn't afford the tax
by eliminating poll taxes
poll taxes and literacy tests
The Poll Taxes were created by act of various state legislatures.
The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution bars the use of poll taxes. This makes it illegal in all states to use poll taxes and the non-payment of such taxes to keep anyone from voting. The amendment therefore stops any and all use of poll taxes.
Poll taxes were taxes that had to be paid by registered voters. The courts decided it was illegal as the poorer people could not afford it and this prevented them from voting. Blacks could generally not afford the tax.
They limited the number of people to those who could afford to vote.
The 24th amendment prohibited poll taxes
Low income citizens cannot afford to pay the poll taxes. If they don't pay poll taxes, they can't vote. Incidentally, poll taxes have been outlawed in the United States.
by eliminating poll taxes
Poll Taxes
The Twenty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution made poll taxes illegal. =)
Yes, poll taxes are illegal in all government elections.
by poll taxes, made them pass literacy test, and the Grandfather clause. :)
poll taxes and literacy tests
The Poll Taxes were created by act of various state legislatures.
A poll tax is illegal because it prevents minorities from voting.
The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution bars the use of poll taxes. This makes it illegal in all states to use poll taxes and the non-payment of such taxes to keep anyone from voting. The amendment therefore stops any and all use of poll taxes.