Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections PDF

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Summary

Constitutional Law II 2020 case brief for harper...

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HARPER v. VIRGINIA STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS 383 U.S. 663 (1966) FACTS: Parties: Appellant: Harper (Π) Appellee: VA State Board of Elections (Δ) Procedural History:  Relevant Facts: 

Πs, VA residents, brought this action to have the state poll tax declared unconstitutional

ISSUE: 

Whether a state may impose a poll tax as a condition of voting

PARTIES’ ARGUMENTS: Appellant:  Appellee:  DISPOSITION OF THE COURT:  RULE OF LAW: 

A state’s condition of the right to vote on the payment of a fee or tax violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

HOLDING: 

VA poll tax is unconstitutional

COURT’S REASONING: 

Once the franchise is granted to the electorate, lines which determine who may vote may not be drawn so as to cause invidious discrimination



Fee payments or wealth, like race, creed or color are unrelated to the citizen’s ability to participate intelligently in the electoral process...