Court Opinion

ID: 9756607
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 21:40:10.047031+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:26.539682
License: Public Domain

WOODWARD, District Judge (specially
concurring):
I concur with the result reached in Judge Thornberry’s Memorandum Opinion. My concurrence is based upon the teachings of Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections, 383 U.S. 663, 86 S.Ct. 1079, 16 L.Ed.2d 169 (1966). The requirement that a person render property for taxation is tantamount to a requirement that a person own property before he may vote in an election authorizing the issuance of tax bonds. The ownership of property, like race, creed or color, has no relationship to one’s ability to participate intelligently in the electoral processes, and a State may only limit the eligibility requirements of voters to those factors which would affect a citizen’s ability to intelligently cast his vote. The defendants here, however, have attempted to limit participation in the election in question to those citizens who own property. Further, the challenged laws place the same limitations on other elections. The defendants, therefore, have exceeded the powers rightfully belonging to a state or any political subdivision thereof and it is my opinion that the statutes and ordinances in question have been properly held unconstitutional.