Breedlove v. Suttles 302 U.S. 277 (1937)

• Author: Kenneth L. Karst
• Pages: 228

Page 228

Georgia levied an annual POLL TAX of one dollar on every inhabitant between ages twenty-one and sixty except blind persons and women who did not register to vote. Voting registration was conditioned on payment of accrued poll taxes. A white male, denied registration for failure to pay poll taxes, challenged this scheme as a violation of the EQUAL PROTECTION and PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES clauses of the FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT, and of the NINETEENTH AMENDMENT as well. In an opinion by Justice PIERCE BUTLER, a unanimous Supreme Court summarily rejected all these challenges and upheld the law. Breedlove was overruled in HARPER V. VIRGINIA BOARD OF ELECTIONS (1966).

KENNETH L. KARST

(1986)