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.
SECTION 2
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
(Source)
The Twenty-fourth amendment to the consitution once again deals with voting rights. While the 14th and 15th amendments gave equal protection to voters, it wasn’t till the 24th amendment that Congress made it unconsitutional to charge voting fees. Known as the poll tax, in largely effected the lower income and minority communities who couldn’t afford to pay the fees, thus couldn’t vote. In 1964, there were still 4 states retiaining the poll tax. Virginia, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas. At first it was argued that it only effected federal elections, however in 1966 the Supreme Court struck down that argument, claiming the 24th amendment did not limit it to Federal elections, and frankly the poll tax violated the 14the amendment.
Discriminary voting regluations are still debated today, including the Photo ID Laws several states have put into action to prevent voting fraud. Many however believe it unfiarly affects low income and minorities who don’t have access to locations to get their ids, or can not afford one. My personal stance on this is neutral because I don’t think they are necessary because voting fraud is very very low and often more likely to be clerical error. But I also found IDs are required so often during everyday things that its hard to believe people don’t have some form of ID, even if its just a state photo ID and not a driver’s license.
Sokorra Lewis 