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The 24th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits the federal government and the states from requiring citizens to pay a poll tax or any other tax to vote in federal elections.

1964

The year this amendment was ratified in.

What is a constitutional amendment?

A constitutional amendment alters the Constitution of the United States by striking or inserting new language. The Constitution establishes the structure, powers, and responsibilities of the federal government. It has been formally amended 27 times.

The constitutional amendment process is as follows:

Step 1

Two-thirds vote

An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures.

Step 2

Three-fourths ratification

Once proposed, the archivist of the United States submits the amendment to the states for consideration. It becomes part of the Constitution once it is ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Full text of the 24th Amendment

"Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

When did the states ratify the 24th Amendment?

Congress proposed this amendment on August 28, 1962. Ratification was completed on January 23, 1964, when the 38th state, South Dakota, approved the amendment, with 50 states in the Union at the time. Illinois was the first state to approve, 78 days after the amendment was proposed. Texas was the last state to approve, 17,100 days after the amendment was proposed.

South Dakota completed ratification of the 24th Amendment.

Date of ratification by state, 24th Amendment

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How has the 24th Amendment shaped Supreme Court rulings?

The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review, which is the authority to declare that federal or state government actions violate the Constitution. This power shows how individual amendments can have a lasting impact on how laws are interpreted and applied.

Under judicial review, there was one case in which the Court struck down laws as unconstitutional under the 24th Amendment.

Supreme Court cases invoking this amendment

Cases, 1798–2021

Supreme Court cases invoking this amendment
CaseYear

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Methodology

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Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.