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24th

 

             The 24th amendment makes it against the law and unconstitutional to require any citizen to have paid any tax in order to vote. At one time, Poll Taxes were regularly used in to keep poor people and minority citizens from voting. Due to this Amendment, failure to pay any tax, including property taxes, real estate taxes, and/or income taxes can no longer be used to keep any citizens from voting. This does not mean that it is not a crime to have not paid taxes, but that unpaid taxes could not be required to be paid in order to vote. Poll Taxes were alleviated in the United States due to this amendment.
             One of the last legal remainders of segregation was the effort to keep black people from the voting. Since most ways for keeping black people form voting was declared unconstitutional, some Southern states [Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia] found an answer to their problem, the poll tax. The poll tax had a long history before it made it to the states, and was often used in Europe to raise funds. Poll taxes were set at the same price for every one, back taxes were made high so that blacks would have to pay much more.
             In 1939, Congress attempted to try to get rid of the poll tax, but many were not behind them. Though only five states had a poll tax by the time the amendment passed Congress, Supreme Court rulings made it doubtful that legislation alone would eliminate the tax altogether. Proposed by Congress on August 27, 1962, the 24th Amendment was ratified within a year and a half, on January 23, 1964.
             Allowing all to vote. .
             This amendment is relevant today and still holds fast .
             As this year 2002 begins to end and many get closer to the legal voting age you will see some of them make a choice. To vote, or not to vote. But that is their legal right. When we look at our natural right life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Deep down in these rights are the rights to vote and have an equal voice.


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