Is Virginia 's Poll Tax Unconstitutional?

The voting rate in America has been very low the past few elections. There are many reasons people feel that people aren’t going to the polls to vote. For example so people believe that its because the people running for positions of power aren’t the the best so nobody votes. Other people believe that its or right as Americans to go to the polls on election day. Forcing People to go vote on election day is not democratic because we are given the freedom to do what we want.

In a quick observation, it may be easy to observe that the Constitution of Virginia is much larger in length and detail than the United States Constitution. There are many differences between these two constitutions besides the authors or contributors being that James Madison contributed to both, however, he was not the complete author of the Constitution of Virginia (Constitutions of Virginia). Both Constitutions have the same idea in which it holds three separate branches of government, however, differences include the detail and content brought amongst the articles. Differences include, but are not limited to, division of the three branches, extra articles and policies, and the amendments. They

The colonists strongly desired independence and separation from Britain once taxation without representation was imposed on them. The colonies struggled to earn their representation in the Parliament of their mother country. They were turned down repeatedly and this caused huge issues for the colonists; it was the complete reason for the Revolutionary War. Therefore, the demand for no taxation without representation was the primary force to motivate America against Britain and it was also a symbol for democracy.

Mandatory voting in America should be implied in the political system. Countries such as Australia and Belgium have already enforced this law on its people, and have had great results in the increasing turnout of voters going to polls. In excess of seventy years in Australia, voters have been obliged to appear to survey Election Day. Disappointment to show up causes a fine of up to fifteen dollars. Australian races since mandatory voting was implemented the turnout has reached an amount of ninety percent and above. Australian citizens have gotten use to showing up to polls and voting that it is a common obligation in their lives. (Ornstein) Based on this statistic mandatory voting has a clear effect. It raises participation rates this would also prompt more Americans to pay attention to which candidate to vote for. Mandatory voting will help change the political system of the United States, which will lead to different political culture and ultimately increase voter-turnout. As well as engage the citizens of our nation to vote who they feel is necessary. Money is also a big issue in becoming a president or even getting people to notice a candidate. Billions of dollars go into these campaigns, but if mandatory voting was enforced, this would lower the amount of money spent tremendously candidates can focus on debates and talk about a right path for our nation. Overall, mandatory voting would create a stronger, smarter, and more democratic United States of America.

The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude".

The right to vote is at the core of what it means to participate in one’s democracy. The 15th, 19th, and 26th amendments brought more people into the voting population by explicitly extending the right to vote to all races, genders, and people over the age of 18. However, a significant number of people are unable to vote today because of their criminal background. The increase of felon disenfranchisement was strategically coupled with the rise of mass incarceration and should be outlawed either by congressional act or by constitutional amendment.

Can you recall an incident in American history involving disgruntled citizens dumping tea into the Boston Harbor? I can. This tea dumping was one of the foremost events of the revolution. Do you remember why these angry citizens dressed as Indians, stormed one of their own boats, and dumped all of the crates of tea into the harbor? The English monarchy’s taxing of the settlers’ tea caused this uprising. Right now, West Virginia’s government is levying an almost identical tax; the government is taxing the very food that West Virginians eat for survival. Doesn’t the government tax enough each year without taxing something that is required for our very sustenance? According to USA Today,

The 24 Amendment abolished poll taxes that southern states used to prevent African Americans from voting in federal elections. After this Amendment was ratified, some Southerners did many other things to prevent African Americans from voting.

Disenfranchisement varies in different states Maine and Vermont, felons never lose their right to vote, even when they are incarcerated. With this law that was made a lot of people thought differently about it. There were many pros and cons and brought up a lot of controversy. Some say its injustice like and others say it is perfectly fine because they are still citizens of the U.S and they are already serving a punishment by imprisonment.

This means that since more than half of the population is ineligible to vote, those elected were given their positions unfairly. It is unjustifiable to have to abide by rules put into place by people who may not deserve to be in such a notable

The grandfather clause was determined to be unconstitutional while states were able to continue giving literacy tests because they were applied to both blacks and whites (Corbin 43). The Supreme Court ruled in 1859 in the case Lassiter v. Northampton County Board of Elections that requirements for voting would be completely left up to the states to decide as long as they do not discriminate against race (Pendergast et al. 307). The states also used the argument that by having literacy tests, it promoted voting done only by intellectuals who were able to understand politics (Corbin 43).

Docket number forty-eight, is Virginia’s poll tax unconstitutional? Originally the poll tax was a prerequisite to voting. It would make the residents of Virginia pay a fee to vote in the electoral process. Each fee was about two dollars per person and per vote. That would be equivalent to about fifteen dollars in 2013 (Supreme 2). They would also discriminate towards poor whites and blacks who went in to vote. Even some women were not allowed either; which is against the 19th amendment which was ratified in 1920. In 1966, the residents of Virginia decided that their poll tax was unconstitutional and in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The clause states that “no state shall deny a person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” (Oyez, 1). The Virginia residents felt that the poll tax was violating that clause because they were not being treated equally at the polls, especially with the infringement of the tax. Annie Harper was the one who filed the suit against the Virginia Board in January of 1966. On March 24, 1966, the court came to a six to three decision for Harper (Oyez, 1). The court ruled that it was unconstitutional that fee payments or wealth,

Yes. The state constitutional amendment known as Proposition 106 is a violation of the Elections Clause because it wrongfully divests the Legislature of its authority to determine the “manner” of congressional elections through redistricting. The District Court wrongfully upheld a statute, which discards the Legislature from its constitutionally delegated function in congressional redistricting under Article I, section 4 (Elections Clause) of the Constitution.

The Voting Rights Act 42 U.S.C. §§ 1973 et seq., decision is important regarding the laws governing voting rights and their relationship to minority voters. Its implication and effects however does not end within the legal realms and dimensions but continues through to society, culture, and human rights. The Voting Rights Act initially established in 1965 under Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration protected “racial minorities” from biased voting practices. It was a huge stride in the civil rights movement and a victory over harmful, archaic, and biased voting practices and traditions.

I think Gov. McAuliffe’ decision to individually restore the voting rights of felons is illegitimate because his actions did not fall under every part of legal-rational authority that he does have. Under legal-rational authority, obedience to laws are expected because the laws are seen as legitimate,