Document: 421 U.S. 289 95 S.Ct. 1637 44 L.Ed.2d 172 John L. HILL, Attorney General of Texas, Appellant,v.Michael STONE et al. No. 73—1723. Argued Jan. 14, 1975. Decided May 12, Rehearing Denied June 16, See 432 1029, 2617. Syllabus After a bond authorization election to finance construction city library was defeated in Fort Worth, Tex., appellee Worth residents brought an action the Federal District Court challenging provisions State Constitution, Election Code, and charter limiting right vote issue elections persons who have 'rendered' or listed real, mixed, personal property for taxation district year election. A three-judge held that this restriction on suffrage did not serve any compelling state interest therefore violated Equal Protection Clause Fourteenth Amendment. Held: 1. The Texas rendering requirement erects classification impermissibly disfranchises otherwise qualified vote, solely because they rendered some taxation. Pp. 294-301. (a) As long as is one special interest, restricting franchise grounds other than residence, age, citizenship cannot stand unless can demonstrate serves interest. Kramer v. Union School District, 395 621, 626—627, 89 1886, 1889, 23 583; Cipriano City Houma, 701, 704, 1897, 1899, 647. 295-297. (b) Worth's 'special interest' election, since general obligation issue, even where debt services will be paid entirely out taxes, matter Phoenix Kolodziejski, 399 204, 90 1990, 26 523. And requirement's alleged furtherance interests protecting owners bear direct burden retiring city's indebtedness encouraging prospective voters render their thereby help enforce State's tax laws, falls far short meeting 'compelling test applied Kramer, Cipriano, Phoenix, supra. 298-301. 2. Court's ruling should apply only those were final date court's judgment, jurisdictions may similar restrictive voting classifications, decision decision. 301-302. 377 F.Supp. 1016, affirmed. David M. Kendall, Jr., Austin, appellant. Don Gladden, appellees. Mr. Justice MARSHALL delivered opinion Court. 1 This case requires us once again consider constitutionality local 2 Appellees, challenge laws made available property. Stone Stovall, 1016 (ND Tex.1974). We granted partial stay order pending disposition appeal. 416 963, 94 1984, 40 314 (1974). subsequently noted probable jurisdiction. 419 822, 37, 42 45 3 * Constitution provides all municipal 'to determine expenditure money assumption debt,' pay taxes are eligible vote. Tex.Const. Art. 6, § 3, Vernon's Ann.St. In addition, it directs 'for purpose issuing bonds lending credit, expending assuming shall limited 'who own taxable . such held,' 'duly same taxation.' 3a. implementing statutes impose requirements, adding qualify resident holding must 'rendered'1 his during proper period year, he sign affidavit indicating has done so. Tex.Elec.Code §§ 5.03, 5.04, 5.07 (1967 Supp.1974—1975), V.A.T.S. Charter further authorized 'qualified situated within corporate limits Ft. Worth.' c. 25, 19. 4 1969, after our decisions Free 15, 583 (1969), 647 devised 'dual box procedure' used elections. Under procedure, owning voted box, registered cast ballots separate box. results both boxes tabulated, would deemed passed if approved by majority 'renderers' box' aggregate boxes. scheme ensured safe from state-law restrictions later unconstitutional. 5 On April 11, 1972, conducted using dual-box system authorize sale improve transportation build library. Since eligibility had previously been construed require voter taxation, actually property, Montgomery Independent Martin, 464 S.W.2d 638 (Tex.1971), signed permitted box.' Of 29,000 participated approximately 24,000 renderers 5,000 nonrenderers. proposal aggregate. bonds, however, less well received. Although voters, renderers' authorized. 6 appellees, three whom nonrenderers,2 then filed United States Northern claiming disfranchisement denied them equal protection laws.3 convened; heard argument, March 1974, entered judgment court declared relevant unconstitutional 'insofar condition citizens' F.Supp., at 1024. ruled its decree make invalid already before ordered defendants count nonrenderers' enjoined future 7 While judges concurred each member panel wrote separately. Judge Thornberry concluded divided into two classifications—renderers nonrenderers—and Clause. Woodward result ground tantamount ownership, which impermissible under Harper Virginia Board Elections, 383 663, 86 1079, 16 169 (1966). Brewster but thought controlled 523 (1970), we statute real owners. II 8 Appellant, Texas,4 argues none cases draws question sort does wealth exercise franchise, appellant contends, create reasonable upheld basis. 9 promote survive constitutional attack. challenged New York school board owned leased district, children enrolled public schools. expressed no whether might circumstances limit 'primarily interested' election,5 excluded many with distinct board, while time including others substantial affairs. fact supported mean subject assessment felt effects burden, inclusion parents exhaust class interested conduct 10 decided day, invalidated Louisiana revenue 'property taxpayers' district.6 failed prove substantially affected Id., 1897. intended extension improvement utility system. pointed operation affects nonproperty alike, included among often use services, feel effect outstanding through rates required pay. 11 next Term, supra, taxpayers issue. held, sufficiently disparate justify excluding city, not, common facilities available, outcome terms benefits provided obligations incurred. arrangement, service revenues receipts, so directly extent. added, municipality looks servicing could legitimately restricted owners: 12 'Property initially owners, significant part ultimate year's rental very likely borne tenant rather landlord treat business expense normally able pass large cost tenants form higher rent.' U.S., 210, S.Ct., 1994. 13 commercial treated doing 'be reflected prices goods purchased alike.' 211, 1995. 14 basic principle these 1889; 1899. 15 appellant's claim thus outside principles runs afoul case, expressly stated issue—even Worth—is classifications voters. making alternative contentions 'rendering requirement' creates 'classification,' created being reasonable, misconceives rationale successors. Appellant anyone renders how little, discriminate basis property.7 Our cases, intimated property-based suspect; character meet stringent justification. based rendering, Mere reasonableness suffice sustain case. B 17 sought extends bonded indebtedness. rejected analysis 'direct' imposition costs Even responsibility taxpayers, members community share various ways. Moreover, particular, well-defined portion electorate. Quite apart contention imposes impediment participation itself undercuts obligations. If become negligible value, hardly said select according magnitude liability indebtedness.8 18 officials argue qualification furthers another interest: encourages helps laws. argument difficult credit. compel compliance other, independent objectives questionable context. 252 234, 253—254 (WD Tex.), aff'd, 384 155, 1383, 434 It seems particularly dubious here, requirement, individual given all, trivial. Those earn minimal without imposing upon themselves liability. unlikely impact asserted policy person property.9 19 sum, establishes proffered fall consistently Phoenix. III 20 avoid possibility upsetting previous State, declined give retroactive judgment. followed course prior dealing elections, see 706, 1900; 213—215, 1996, agree determination effect. invalidating statutory full time,10 reliance hold Texas,11 securities legally complete 21 Affirmed. 22 DOUGLAS took consideration REHNQUIST, THE CHIEF JUSTICE STEWART join, dissenting. 24 restricts taxing officials. All personal, mixed citizen law. 8, 1; Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat. Arts. 7145, 7147 (1960 Supp.1974—1975). citizens law yearly added rolls. 7151, 7152, 7153, 7189 25 satisfied listing single item though purely nominal worth, completion polling places description properly rendered. Tex.Elec. Code 5.03 seq. Supp.1974—1975); 638, 640 (Tex.1971); Dubose Ainsworth, 139 307, 308 (Tex.Civ.App.1940). Rendering immediately qualifies, untimely statutes, Markowsky Newman, 134 Tex. 440, 449—450, 136 808, 813 (1940), absence adequate eliminates rendition requirement. Hanson Jordan, 145 320, 198 262 (1946); Green Stienke, 321 (Tex.Civ.App.1959). law, elector pair shoes bicycle day casts different cattle baron. Not surprisingly, Supreme qualification: 27 '(V)oter qualifications ownership above, interpreted decisions, universal constitute really desires kind need tax. 28 '. One willing assume distributive burden. 29 To allow permit fair resulting obligation, confer preferential rights.' S.W.2d, 640—642. 30 Appellees instant drawn attention totally propertyless poorer Diogenes, whose total lack precludes him complying Instead, deprived consists legal choosing reason carelessness, tax-avoidance motive, otherwise. deprivation lies self-disfranchisement caused failure utilize readily 31 considered abstract propositions disembodied equality invalidates examination surrounding them, Tigner 310 141, 147, 60 879, 882, 84 L.Ed. 1124 exception passing governmental requirements affecting looked denying it. Williams Rhodes, 393 23, 30, 5, 10, (1968); Dunn Blumstein, 405 330, 335, 336, 92 995, 999, 274 (1972). scrutiny triggered appreciable ability franchise. McDonald Election, 394 802, 807—808, 1404, 1407, 739 (1969); n. Gordon Lance, 403 1, 91 1891, 273 (1971); Bullock Carter, 134, 144, 849, 856, 32 Rosario Rockefeller, 410 752, 93 1245, 36 (1973), registration requiring party months advance primary prerequisite primary, stating: 33 'We accept petitioners' contention. None rely apposite situation here. electoral particular residents, there way Section 186 York's Law, quite different. absolutely disenfranchise petitioners belong—newly .. Rather, merely imposed deadline enrollment, participate primary. do say why enroll cutoff date; clear so, chose to. Hence, plight characterized dsenfranchisement 186, take timely steps enrollment.' 757 758, 1249. 34 four dissenting Members 'serious infringement' establishment violation. 767, 1254 (Powell, J., joined Douglas, Brennan, Marshall, JJ., dissenting). also id., 765, 1253. 35 immediate appellees nonrenderers represent easily complied qualification, duty necessary orderly voluntary self-assessment de minimis universally easy. Despite this, Court, inquiry appellees' concludes Ante, 298, 300-301. 37 expected when abstract, theoretical arguments advanced support involved against constitutionality, tend cut contends minimal. disposes concluding event valid policy. increasing amount rolls, turn taxed retire incurred question. response unreasonably burdens dialogue somewhat edifying, traced dichotomy 'election interest,' ante, 295, herded categories. 'residence, citizenship,' ibid., received imprimatur, 'strict scrutiny' requirements. judicially scarcely 'rational basis' test, unexplained decisions. But taking terms, sound applying now. 38 distinguishes, 300 9, unlike directed toward "preserv(ing) integrity process." factual matter, offered distinction doubtful one. served examined prevention 'raiding': crossing lines affect political party. designed prevent violate avoiding however small be, influencing process allowing citizens, unwilling responsibilities membership, primaries, understand occurring 39 indicates, 298 7, oral practice functions property-related realty personalty up virtually Worth. However, conceded allegation record Tr. Oral Arg. 31. extent speak assertion, shows amounts generally. App. 68, 81—84. below indicated suspicion operated facto exclusion non-real-property disagreement. Compare 1020 (opinion Thornberry, J.), 1025 Woodward, specially concurring). light serious raised disagreement evidence resolving it, I vacate remand administered practical disfranchising identifiable groups nonreal constitutes genuine Cf. (1970). 'render' means list assessor-collector Property either owner reports rolls himself. Taxable includes exemptions, $3,000 homesteads $250 household furnishings. Ann.Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat. 7152 penal sanction failing voluntarily. five named They favor bonds. certified Fed.Rule Civ.Proc. 23(b)(2). officials, below, appeal brief urging reversal, subsequent references procedure defeat votes, votes renderers, produced issued, favored them. opposed effect, overall defendant certify validity 709d (1964 Supp.1974 1975), 4398 answered Salyer Land Co. Tulare Water 719, 1224, 659 (1973). water acquiring, storing, distributing agricultural purposes constitutionally directors selected allocated assessed value voter's land. Because disproportionate activities landowners group,' 728, 1229, sufficient group others. Louisiana, taxpayer' include personalty. administrative reality meant 'real taxpayer.' Stewart Parish Board, 1172, 1173 (ED La.), 400 884, 136, 129 Taxes' collection, classification. Appellees' counsel informed like communities makes affirmative effort 26—27. Residents free forms personalty, apparently seldom done. Yudof, Tax 51 Tex.L.Rev. 885, 889—890 result, automatically 'renderers,' unusual step voluntarily 'rendering' When taxpayer affirms valuation correct. Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Arts. 7164, 7184 (1960). Georgia defense 'freeholder' membership county boards education. Turner Fouche, 396 346, 363 364, 532, 542, 567 claimed freeholder candidate square inch conceive rational whatsoever. relies McDonald, pretrial detainees Illinois jails unconstitutionally absentee ballots. nothing indicate appellants' 807 809, 1407. Any restraining fundamental noted, close scrutiny. Rosario, neutral register preference days succeeding 'legitimate goal' 'preservation process,' 761, 1251, 759 1250, limitation First Amendment association. By contrast, having perceptible preserving process; instead, excludes electorate comply wholly prohibited procedure. 314. There jurisdictions, least governed statewide provisions. told beside fashion decided, now Brief Ariz., Amici Curiae addition referred 213 Nevada Wyoming utilized much Texas', abandoned. Nev.Laws 1971, 49; Wyo.Laws 1973, 251.

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