Haskins v. Davis
Opinion of the Court
In anticipation of the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibiting the exaction of a tax as a qualification for voting in a federal election, Virginia amended its laws to provide for dual registration and qualification of voters.
A person, otherwise qualified, who has paid his poll tax is entitled to register and vote in all elections, both state and federal. A person, otherwise qualified, who has not paid his poll tax is entitled to register for federal elections only. The statutes require separate registration rolls. A person registered only for federal elections is not registered for all elections. In all other respects the requirements and procedures for registration are identical. §§ 24-17, 24-17.1, 24-67, and 24-67.1, Code of Virginia.
The plaintiff registered for federal elections. Several months later she paid all poll taxes due as a prerequisite to voting in state elections. She was not allowed to vote in state elections because she had not registered for all elections.
Virginia’s poll tax was held to violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment in Harper v. Virginia State
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Portia A. HASKINS v. Levin Nock DAVIS
- Status
- Published