Harman v. Forssenius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harman v. Forssenius |
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| Argued March 1–2, 1965 Decided April 27, 1965 |
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| Full case name | Harman v. Forssenius |
| Citations | 380 U.S. 528 (more)
85 S. Ct. 1177; 14 L. Ed. 2d 50; 1965 U.S. LEXIS 1347
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| Holding | |
| Virginia's law partially eliminating the poll tax violated the Twenty-fourth Amendment. | |
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| Majority | Warren, joined by unanimous |
Harman v. Forssenius was an important case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1965. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. This case was about voting rights. The Court decided that a law in Virginia was unfair. This law tried to get around a new rule about voting.
The Court ruled that Virginia's way of dealing with the poll tax was against the Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Twenty-fourth Amendment had just made poll taxes illegal for federal elections.
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What Was the Poll Tax?
A poll tax was a fee that people had to pay to vote. For many years, some states used poll taxes. This made it harder for poor people to vote. It also made it harder for many African Americans to vote. This was a way to stop certain groups from having a say in elections.
Over time, many people felt that poll taxes were unfair. They believed that everyone should have the right to vote. This right should not depend on how much money someone had.
The Twenty-fourth Amendment
In 1964, the United States added the Twenty-fourth Amendment to its Constitution. A constitutional amendment is a change or addition to the country's main set of laws. This new amendment said that people could not be charged a poll tax to vote in federal elections. Federal elections are for choosing the President, Vice President, and members of Congress.
This amendment was a big step forward for voting rights. It aimed to make sure that everyone could vote, no matter their income.
Virginia's "Escape Clause"
After the Twenty-fourth Amendment was passed, Virginia tried to find a way around it. The state still wanted to limit who could vote. Virginia created a new rule. It was like an "escape clause" for the poll tax.
Instead of paying the poll tax, a voter could get a special certificate. This certificate proved they lived in Virginia. But there was a catch. People had to apply for this certificate six months before an election. This long waiting period was a problem. Many people might forget, or their plans could change. This rule was expected to lower the number of people who could vote.
The Supreme Court's Decision
A group of people challenged Virginia's new rule. They said it was still unfair. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. The case was called Harman v. Forssenius.
In 1965, the Supreme Court made its decision. All nine judges on the Court agreed. This is called a unanimous decision. They said that Virginia's "escape clause" was unconstitutional. This means it went against the U.S. Constitution.
The Court made it very clear. For federal elections, the poll tax was completely gone. No other fee or rule could take its place. The judges said that no "equivalent or milder substitute may be imposed." This ruling helped protect the voting rights of many Americans. It made sure that the Twenty-fourth Amendment was truly effective.
