When did Texas get rid of the poll tax?
TARLETON STATE COLLEGE At a special election on November 9, 1963, the voters of Texas re- jected a proposed amendment to the state constitution which would have abolished the poll tax as a prerequisite for voting. Payment of a poll tax as a voting requirement has been in effect only since 1902.
What was the poll tax in Texas in 1869?
The Texas Constitution of 1869 and 1876 allowed the Legislature to impose an annual “poll tax” of $1 on all men between the ages of 21 and 60. The poll tax was used to fund free public schools and was not a prerequisite for voting.
What was the poll tax and why did it happen?
“The poll tax was high enough to discourage people from voting, particularly African-Americans, Tejanos and poor whites,” Buenger said. “Some evidence shows the poll tax was a reaction to the populist movement of the 1890s, which drew support of African-Americans.”
How many new voters would there be if the poll tax was repealed?
bers, estimated as high as 125, 000, 21 of new voters (low-income whites, Latins, and Negroes) there would be if the poll tax were repealed. Con- sidering the closeness of many Texas primaries and elections, an added
When was the poll tax levied in Texas?
Davis Jr., assistant Texas attorney general. The poll tax that you now hold bears the year 1955 and was levied against you on January 1, 1955, and was payable between October 1, 1955 and January 31, 1956, ...
When did Texas start having poll tax?
This was a not a new concept of voting in Texas. The poll tax here dates back to the days of the Texas republic, when a $1 tax was levied against all white males between the ages of 21 and 55. (Actually the name is kind of a misnomer. In Middle English "poll" means "head," making it a head tax.)
What did the Chronicle warn voters of?
In a number of editorials leading up to the 1963 vote, the Chronicle warned voters of chaos at the polls should the state keep its poll tax for state and local elections while not requiring payment to vote in federal elections, including the 1964 presidential contest.
Why are women not paying poll taxes in Harris County?
Why? As the Houston Post reported, "many women are reported unwilling to pay poll taxes because of a fear that they will be called to jury duty."
What percentage of the population voted in Texas in 1960?
Only 40 percent of the adult population voted in Texas in 1960, a ratio far below the national average.". In a November letter to the Dallas Express, Martin Luther King Jr. said the poll tax "puts a price tag on freedom.".
When did poll tax start?
In 1902 though, state lawmakers made the poll tax a requirement for voting. Its effects on voting were stark. In a 2015 essay on the history of the poll tax in Texas, Joshua Houston said "turnout by whites dropped to 50 percent and turnout by blacks plummeted to 15 percent."
How much did voters pay in Harris County in 1950?
So how much did voters have to pay? It varied by county, but in 1950s Harris County, residents paid $1.50, of which $1 went to the state's school fund, 30 cents to the state and 20 cents to the county.
