The Constitution: The 24th Amendment

South Dakota last week became the 38th state to ratify the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, thereby making it the law of the land. The operative clause of the new amendment:

“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 any poll tax or other tax.”

Most states have already abolished laws that imposed taxes as a qualification for voting. The new amendment now cancels such laws still on the books of five states: Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas and Virginia.