The 24th Amendment Explained

The 24th Amendment is part of the U.S. Constitution and prevents the federal government and states from requiring people to pay a poll tax before they can vote in federal elections.

"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 reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax."

Who Does the Twenty-Fourth Amendment Protect?

The Federal Government

The Federal Government cannot require people to pay a poll tax to vote in federal elections.

State Governments

State Governments cannot require people to pay a poll tax to vote in federal elections.

The People

People cannot be denied the right to vote in federal elections because they did not pay a poll tax.

What Does the Twenty-Fourth Amendment Protect?

Section 1

Prevents the government from requiring people to pay a poll tax or another tax before voting in a federal election.

Section 2

Gives Congress the power to make laws that enforce this amendment.

The 24th Amendment does not:

Remove other voting requirements, such as: Minimum age, Citizenship, Voter registration, and State residency requirements

How Does the Twenty-Fourth Amendment Protect People?

The 24th Amendment does not allow the federal government or state governments to charge people money in order to vote in federal elections. It ensures that a person's financial situation does not determine whether they can vote.

Where Does the Twenty-Fourth Amendment Apply?

Federal Elections

It protects voting for President, Vice President, Senators, and Representatives.

Voting Requirements

It prevents payment of a poll tax from being required before voting.

Federal and State Governments

Both federal and state governments must follow this rule when conducting federal elections.

Why Was the Twenty-Fourth Amendment Established?

The 24th amendment was established because poll taxes were used to make voting more difficult, especially for Black Americans and poor Americans.

Removing poll taxes helped make voting more accessible and protected the right to vote from being tied to a person's ability to pay.

When Was the Twenty-Fourth Amendment Approved?

The 24th Amendment was proposed by Congress on August 27, 1962, and approved by the states on January 23, 1964, about 1 year and 5 months later.