Historical Voting Restrictions

One of my experiences during last week’s Civil Rights Freedom Ride Experience, Alabama, occurred at the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma. The South was creative in creating laws and tactics to prevent black people from registering to vote. I was particularly distressed by a “Literacy Test” from Alabama:

TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THIS STATE, YOU MUST CORRECTLY ANSWER

THE QUESTIONS IN THIS EXAMINATION

1. How many seeds in a watermelon?

2. If a person charged with treason denied their guilt, how many persons must testify against them before they can be convicted?

3. In what year did Congress gain the right to prohibit the migration of persons to the states?

4. How many bubbles are in a bar of soap?

5. Draw a figure at the bottom of this sheet that is square in shape. Divide it in half by drawing a straight line from its northeast corner to its southwest corner, and then divide it once more by drawing a broken line from the middle of its western side to the middle of its eastern side.

6. Print a word that looks the same whether it is printed frontwards or backwards.

7. Draw five circles below that have one common interlocking part.

8. How may the county seat be changed under the constitution of your state?

9. Divide a vertical line in two equal parts by bisecting it with a curved horizontal line that is only straight at its spot bisection of the vertical.

10. How many jelly beans are in the jar in front of you?

How many of us would be legal voters if we were required to pass this test? Of course, not all registrants had to take this test.