My Mother-in-law found her receipt from 1963. This was when she voted for Dallas Mayor and City Council (click for a larger image view). This was one of the last elections that required a poll tax in Dallas.
Of course, I blurred out her name and address along with the receipt number. For some reason, they checked off "white" on her receipt (she is African-American). It's amazing what citizens used to endure just to vote. It's one of the reasons I try to never miss voting in an election.
Some history on poll tax:
1902
The poll tax becomes a requirement for voting.
1964
The poll tax is abolished by the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as a requirement for voting for federal offices. It is retained in Texas, however, for state and local offices
1966
The poll tax is repealed as a requirement for voting in all elections by amendment of the Texas Constitution.
1 comments:
I came to Austin, Tx. in 1963 and as a registered nurse I was appalled that my fellow nurses had to pay to vote simply because of their skin color. I had to pay, also, but I knew the real reason for the tax. Since then I have been a loyal Democrat, along with my husband, who was a lowly airman at Bergstrom AFB in those days. But discrimination continues even after all the hard earned changes we have witnessed over the years. All the more reason to vote in this election...we still NEED change !! Granny Beth Mosley, RNC (Retired)
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