Legal Definitions - Twenty-fourth Amendment

The Twenty-fourth Amendment is a part of the United States Constitution, ratified in 1964. It prohibits both federal and state governments from denying or restricting a citizen's right to vote in federal elections—such as for President, Vice President, or members of Congress—because they have failed to pay a poll tax or any other type of tax. Essentially, this amendment abolished the practice of requiring payment as a condition for casting a ballot in federal elections.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of the Twenty-fourth Amendment:

• Scenario: A state legislature proposes a new law requiring all citizens to pay a $10 "voter access fee" at their polling place before they can receive a ballot for the upcoming presidential election.

  Explanation: This proposed law would be unconstitutional under the Twenty-fourth Amendment. The amendment explicitly forbids any federal or state government from imposing a tax, whether called a "poll tax" or a "voter access fee," as a prerequisite for voting in a federal election. The $10 fee directly restricts the right to vote based on a failure to pay a tax.

• Scenario: A county election board, citing budget shortfalls, decides that only citizens who can provide proof of having paid their property taxes for the current year will be allowed to vote in the federal congressional elections.

  Explanation: This requirement violates the Twenty-fourth Amendment. While property taxes are a legitimate government levy, the amendment ensures that the failure to pay *any* tax, not just a specific poll tax, cannot be used to deny someone the right to vote in federal elections. Conditioning voting on the payment of property taxes creates an unconstitutional financial barrier.

• Scenario: In a historical context, before 1964, some states might have required citizens to present a receipt proving they had paid a specific "road maintenance tax" from the previous year before being allowed to register to vote for federal offices.

  Explanation: The Twenty-fourth Amendment was specifically enacted to prevent such practices. It ensures that the right to vote in federal elections is not contingent upon a citizen's ability or willingness to pay any form of tax. This amendment guarantees that voting remains free from financial prerequisites imposed by the government.