[EL] Literacy tests

[Pamela S Karlan]

52 U.S.C. 10501 bans literacy tests in all elections:

10501. Application of prohibition to other States; "test or device" defined

(a) No citizen shall be denied, because of his failure to comply with any test or device, the right to vote in any Federal, State, or local election conducted in any State or political subdivision of a State.

(b) As used in this section, the term "test or device" means any requirement that a person as a prerequisite for voting or registration for voting (1) demonstrate the ability to read, write, understand, or interpret any matter, (2) demonstrate any educational achievement or his knowledge of any particular subject, (3) possess good moral character, or (4) prove his qualifications by the voucher of registered voters or members of any other class.

Pamela S. Karlan
Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Professor of Public Interest Law
Co-Director, Stanford Supreme Court Litigation Clinic
Stanford Law School
559  Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305
karlan at stanford.edu
650.725.4851

On Aug 28, 2020, at 8:53 AM, Kogan, Vladimir <kogan.18 at osu.edu> wrote:


Hi everyone, a student asked me this question and I was embarrassed to not know the answer: Does the Voting Rights Act’s prohibition on literacy tests apply only to federal elections? In other words, could a state today implement a literacy tests requirement for state and local elections?

Thanks in advance!

Vlad Kogan

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Vladimir Kogan, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Political Science
2004 Derby Hall | 154 N. Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210-1373
510/415-4074 Mobile
614/292-9498 Office
614/292-1146
http://u.osu.edu/kogan.18/
kogan.18 at osu.edu<mailto:kogan.18 at osu.edu>
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@vkoganosu<https://twitter.com/vkoganosu>

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