Document: 360 U.S. 45 79 S.Ct. 985 3 L.Ed.2d 1072 Louise LASSITER, Appellant,v.NORTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS. No. 584. Argued May 18, 19, 1959. Decided June 8, Mr. Samuel S. Mitchell, Raleigh, N.C., for appellant. I. Beverly Lake, appellee. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 This controversy started in a Federal District Appellant, Negro citizen North Carolina, sued to have literacy test voters prescribed by that State declared unconstitutional and void. A three-judge court was convened. That noted part provision Carolina Constitution also included grandfather clause. It said clause plainly would be under Guinn v. United States, 238 347, 35 926, 59 L.Ed. 1340. noted, however, statute which enforced registration requirements contained had been superseded 1957 Act does not contain or any reference it. But being uncertain as significance deeming it wise all administrative remedies exhausted before federal acted, stayed its action, retaining jurisdiction reasonable time enable appellant exhaust her obtain from state courts an interpretation light Constitution. Lassiter Taylor, D.C., 152 F.Supp. 295. 2 Thereupon instant case commenced. proceeding. Appellant applied voter. Her denied registrar because she refused submit required statute.1 She appealed County Board Elections. On de novo hearing again take reason. Superior Court sustained against claim requirement violated Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth Amendments Constitutio. P reserving question, Supreme affirmed lower court. 248 N.C. 102, 102 S.E.2d 853. The came here appeal, 28 U.S.C. § 1257(2), U.S.C.A. we probable jurisdiction. 358 916, 294, 236. is 4 Art. VI first sentence 4. second contains so-called entire reads follows: 'Every person presenting himself shall able read write section English language. no male who was, on January 1, 1867, at prior thereto, entitled vote laws states wherein he then resided, lineal descendant such person, right register election this reason his failure possess educational qualifications herein prescribed: Provided, registered accordance with terms December 1908. General Assembly provide persons, without prescribed, shall, November 1908, making permanent record registration, persons so forever thereafter elections people State, unless disqualified article.' 5 Originally following provision: 6 'That amendment presented adopted one indivisible plan regulation suffrage, intent purpose connect different parts, make them dependent upon each other, whole stand fall together.' held 1945 Article freed indivisibility rephrased 7 born every has naturalized, twenty-one years age, possessing set out Article, vote.' 8 'one those qualifications' VI; 'had effect incorporating adopting anew provisions o voter VI, 1902 amendment. And way made clear act.' page 112, 860. 9 In Legislature rewrote Statutes 163—28 noted.2 Prior perpetuated 163—32 established procedure effectuate it.3 'All clauses conflict are hereby repealed.'4 ruled eliminated statute. 296. 10 Attorney amicus brief, agrees Fifteenth Amendment. Appellee maintains invalidity impair remainder since Under view impose same imposed neither linked which, though present print, separable rest We 11 argues end problem There some counties.5 points although cut-off date might still voting. If they were allowed taking if passed it, members white race receive preferential privileges ballot contrary command analogous posed classic Yick Wo Hopkins, 118 356, 1064, 30 220, where ordinance unimpeachable face violate guarantee equal protection Fourteenth issue discrimination actual operation framed issues litigation. Cf. Williams Mississippi, 170 213, 225, 18 583, 588, 42 1012. So do reach mention passing may nothing say will prejudice tendering proceedings await termination 12 come question whether consistently apply irrespective color. supra, 366, 931, disposed few words, 'No need spent validity th test, considered alone, since, seen establishment but exercise lawful power vested subject our supervision, indeed, admitted.' 13 States long broad powers determine conditions suffrage exercised, Pope Williams, 193 621, 633, 24 573, 576, 48 817; Mason Missouri, 179 328, 335, 21 125, 128, 214, absent course condemns. I, House Representatives Amendment Senators officials chosen 'by People.' Each goes 'the Electors Qualifications requisite most numerous Branch Legislature.' while guaranteed (Ex parte Yarbrough, 110 651, 663—665, 152, 158, 159, 274; Smith Allwright, 321 649, 661—662, 64 757, 763—764, 88 987) imposition standards discriminatory contravene restriction Congress acting pursuant constitutional powers, imposed. See Classic, 313 299, 315, 61 1031, 1037, 85 1368. While Amendment, provides apportionment among according their respective numbers counting number (except Indians taxed), speaks vote,' protected 'refers constitution state.' McPherson Blacker, 146 39, 3, 12, 36 869. 14 suggest desires adopt voters. there wide scope Residence requirements, previous criminal (Davis Beason, 133 333, 345—347, 301—302, 33 637) obvious examples indicating factors into consideration determining ability likewise relation designed promote intelligent use ballot. Literacy illiteracy neutral race, creed, color, sex, reports around world show.6 intelligence obviously synonymous. Illiterate Yet society newspapers, periodicals, books, other printed matter canvass debate campaign issues, conclude only literate should franchise. Franklin Harper, 205 Ga. 779, 55 221, appeal dismissed 339 946, 70 804, 94 1361. last century Massachusetts insure 'independent intelligent' suffrage.7 Stone Smith, 159 Mass. 413—414, 34 N.E. 521. agrees. sit judgment wisdom policy. cannot say, allowable measured standards. 15 Of fair face, employed perpetuate uproot. No influence charged here. hand, face. Davis Schnell, 81 872, 873, 336 933, 69 749, 93 1093, citizen's 'understand explain' article legislative setting great discretion merely device racial easy. inference requirement, applicable races, prospective 'be language.' seems us literate, calculated scheme lay springes citizen. Certainly condemn unrelated desire raise races cast 16 Affirmed. Act, 1957, duty administer section.' 'Sections 163—28.1, 163—28.2, 163—28.3 pursued case. Note supra. Section provided: claiming benefit four six ratified general day August, thousand nine hundred, shal b e provided four, first, bundred eight, officer law regular Assembly, subscribe oath form, viz.: 'I am Carolina; I —- age. January, A.D. eight hundred sixty-seven, date, _ resided (or, _, one, resided).' N.C.Laws c. 287, pp. 277, 278. 163—31.2 provides: 'In counties having more municipalities population excess 10,000 modern looseleaf visible system permitted G.S. 163—43, full authorized 163—31, public qualification vote, cancelled new ordered, either precinct countywide, lost destroyed theft, fire hazard.' World Illiteracy Mid-Century, Unesco (1957). Nineteen including sort prerequisite eligibility Five require own name. Arizona Rev.Stat. 16—101; West's Ann.Cal.Election Code 220; Del.Code Ann., Tit. 15, 1701; Me.Rev.Stat., 2; Mass.Gen.L.Ann., 51, 1. elector Ala.Code, 1940, 17, 32; N.H.Rev.Stat.Ann. 5:10 55:12; N.C.Gen.Stat. 163—28; Okla.Stat.Ann., 26, 61; S.C.Code 23—62. Alabama requires 'good character' 'embrace duties obligations citizenship' Constitutions. 32 (1955 Supp.). Two English. N.Y. Election Law 150; Ore.Rev.Stat. 247.131. Wyoming (Wyo.Comp.Stat.Ann. 31—113) Connecticut (Conn.Gen.Stat. 12) English, Virginia (Va.Code 24—68) voting application written applicant's hand aid, suggestion memoranda. Washington (Wash.Rev.Code 29.07.070) speak Georgia intelligibly legibly physically unable so, qualify can give him. An alternative means qualifying good character understands citizenship republican government, answer correctly 20 questions listed (e.g., How county site changed?, what treason Georgia?, solicitor judge Judicial Circuit you live?) eligible vote. Ga.Code Ann. §§ 34—117, 34—120. Louisiana qualifies mother tongue, character, form government. write, interpretion when him, attached principles LSA—R.S., 31. Mississippi applicant must He demonstrate understanding Miss.Code 3213.

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