Background Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution

history of poll tax state 1868 1966.

southern states adopted poll tax requirement voting part of series of laws intended marginalize black americans politics far practicable without violating fifteenth amendment. required voting not limited race, color, or previous condition of servitude. voters required pay poll tax, in practice affected poor. notably impacted both african americans , poor white voters, of whom had voted populist , fusionist candidates in late 19th century, temporarily disturbing democratic rule. proponents of poll tax downplayed aspect , assured white voters not affected. passage of poll taxes began in earnest in 1890s, democrats wanted prevent populist-republican coalition. despite election violence , fraud, african americans still winning numerous local seats. 1902, eleven states of former confederacy had enacted poll tax, many within new constitutions contained other provisions reduce voter lists, such literacy or comprehension tests. poll tax used grandfather clauses , white primary , , threats of violence. example, potential voters had assessed in arkansas, , blacks utterly ignored in assessment.

from 1900 1937, such use of poll tax ignored federal government. state-level initiatives repealed it. poll tax survived legal challenge in 1937 supreme court case breedlove v. suttles, unanimously ruled [the] privilege of voting not derived united states, conferred state and, save restrained fifteenth , nineteenth amendments , other provisions of federal constitution, state may condition suffrage deems appropriate.

the issue remained prominent, african americans in south disenfranchised. president franklin d. roosevelt spoke out against tax. publicly called remnant of revolutionary period country had moved past. however, roosevelt s favored liberal democrats lost in 1938 primaries reigning conservative southern democrats, , backed off issue. felt needed southern democratic votes pass new deal programs , did not want further antagonize them. still, efforts @ congressional level abolish poll tax continued. 1939 bill abolish poll tax in federal elections tied southern block, lawmakers long tenure in office one-party region gave them seniority , command of numerous important committee chairmanships. discharge petition able force bill considered, , house passed bill 254–84. however, bill unable defeat filibuster in senate southern senators , few northern allies valued support of powerful , senior southern seats. bill re-proposed in next several congresses. came closest passage during world war ii, when opponents framed abolition means overseas soldiers vote. however, after learning supreme court decision smith v. allwright (1944) banned use of white primary, southern block refused approve abolition of poll tax.

in 1946, senate came close passing bill. 24 democrats , 15 republicans approved end debate, while 7 non-southern democrats , 7 republicans joined 19 southern democrats in opposition. result 39–33 vote in favor of bill, filibuster required two-thirds supermajority break @ time; 48–24 vote required pass bill. in favor of abolition of poll tax considered constitutional amendment after 1946 defeat, idea did not advance either.

the tenor of debate changed in 1940s. southern politicians tried shift debate constitutional issue, private correspondence indicates black disenfranchisement still true concern. instance, mississippi senator theodore bilbo declared, if poll tax bill passes, next step effort remove registration qualification, educational qualification of negroes. if done have no way of preventing negroes voting. fear explains why southern senators states had abolished poll tax still opposed bill; did not want set precedent federal government interfere in state elections.

president harry s. truman established president s committee on civil rights, among other issues investigated poll tax. considering opposition federal poll tax regulation in 1948 claimed based on constitution, committee noted constitutional amendment might best way proceed. still, little occurred during 1950s. members of anti-poll tax movement laid low during anti-communist frenzy of period; of main proponents of poll tax abolition, such joseph gelders , vito marcantonio, had been committed marxists.

president john f. kennedy returned issue. administration urged congress adopt , send such amendment states ratification. considered constitutional amendment best way avoid filibuster, claim federal abolition of poll tax unconstitutional moot. still, liberals opposed kennedy s action, feeling amendment slow compared legislation. spessard holland, conservative democrat florida, introduced amendment senate. holland opposed civil rights legislation during career, , kennedy s gaining of support helped splinter monolithic southern opposition amendment. ratification of amendment relatively quick, taking more year; rapidly ratified state legislatures across country august 1962 january 1964.

president lyndon b. johnson called amendment triumph of liberty on restriction , verification of people s rights. states maintained poll tax more reserved. mississippi s attorney general, joe patterson, complained complexity of 2 sets of voters – paid poll tax , vote in elections, , had not , vote in federal elections. additionally, non-payers of poll tax still deterred requirements register far in advance of election , retain records of such registration. states such alabama exercised discrimination in application of literacy tests.