For the reasons below, we conclude the provisions violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Charter Restrictions You identified five town charters which restrict the right to vote to residents who are current in their local obligations. The precise proscriptions and requirements differ in each charter. Standard of review under the Equal Protection Clause.
Voting is a fundamental right.
The right to vote is fundamental. Since the franchise is a fundamental right, the charter provisions you questioned are subject to strict judicial scrutiny, the most exacting standard of constitutional review. Similar voting restrictions held to violate the Equal Protection Clause. The United States Supreme Court has not directly considered the non-delinquency requirement found in the Town Charters. However, it has reviewed and invalidated other franchise restrictions based on, or related to, taxation status.