24th Amendment

Definition

The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1964, prohibits both Congress and the states from conditioning the right to vote in federal elections on payment of a poll tax or other types of taxes. This amendment was a critical step towards ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their financial status, have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process.

Related terms

Poll Tax: A tax levied as a prerequisite for voting; historically used in some states to disenfranchise poor and minority voters before being outlawed by the 24th Amendment.

Voting Rights Act of 1965:

Legislation that aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed under the 15th Amendment.

Disenfranchisement:

The revocation or denial of voting rights, often targeting specific groups within society based on race, economic status, or other criteria