Lawmakers can limit voting in ways that are subtler than completely denying suffrage to a group of people. Voters can be disenfranchised by simple voting laws that on the surface appear to be good for everyone, but implicitly impact certain people based on their income, general education level, access to transportation, or possession of certain types of documentation. A poll tax requirement forced people to pay a fee in order to vote, something often out of reach for economically disadvantaged communities. Other laws required would-be voters to pass an English language test, which was evaluated by a town employee before they could register to vote. While Massachusetts and other states used a simple literacy test (I.e., an applicant read part of the state constitution back to the official), some states used much more complex tests.

Document G

An excerpt from a 68-question literacy test given in Alabama in 1965, the same year at the Voting Rights Act would ban the practice of using literacy tests to qualify for suffrage.

“1. Which of the following is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?

_____Public Education

_____Employment

_____Trial by Jury

_____Voting

2. The federal census of population is taken every five years. _____True _____False

3. If a person is indicted for a crime, name two rights which he has. ______________ _______________

4. A U.S. senator elected at the general election in November takes office the following year on what date? _____________

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8. When the Constitution was approved by the original colonies, how many states had to ratify it in order for it to be in effect? _________________________________________

9. Does enumeration affect the income tax levied on citizens in various states? __________

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30. Of the original 13 states, the one with the largest representation in the first Congress was _______________.

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41. The Constitution limits the size of the District of Columbia to __________________________________.

42. The only laws which can be passed to apply to an area in a federal arsenal are those passed by _________________ provided consent for the purchase of the land is given by the ______________________.

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66. After the presidential electors have voted, to whom do they send the count of their votes? ______________

67. The power to declare war is vested in ________________________________________.

68. Any power and rights not given to the U.S. or prohibited to the states by the U.S. Constitution are specified as belonging to whom? ______________________________.”