The Twenty-fourth Modification to america Structure, ratified in 1964, outlawed the ballot tax as a prerequisite for voting in federal elections. This meant that residents may not be denied the appropriate to vote just because they may not afford to pay a payment. Previous to its ratification, ballot taxes have been utilized in some states, notably within the South, as a discriminatory measure to disenfranchise impoverished voters, a lot of whom have been African Individuals.
Eliminating the ballot tax considerably expanded voting rights and facilitated better participation within the democratic course of for all residents, no matter financial standing. This modification performed an important function within the Civil Rights Motion, eradicating a considerable barrier to African American suffrage and empowering marginalized communities to train their basic proper to vote. It marked a vital step in direction of a extra inclusive and equitable electoral system in america.