The press in Delaware has noticed that one town in northern Delaware, Delaware City, does not permit voters to vote in town elections unless they have “currently paid all city taxes, fees, charges, liens and debts that are due.” See this story. The town held its most recent election on April 6, 2010.
The town’s policy appears to violate several U.S. Supreme Court decisions. In 1966, the Court said in Harper v Board of Elections that “A state violate the Equal Protection Clause whenever it makes the affluence of the voter or payment of any fee an electoral standard.” There were also 3 decisions in 1969 which struck down local laws restricting the franchise to people who own property.
Perhaps the town is attempting to secede from the Union ???
Sounds like a modern-day poll tax.
“poll tax”; that is also what I thought when I read the article. I’d be interested to see the economic demographics of the people who are excluded from voting for this reason.
This is offensive, un-democratic, and un-American. I wonder if these folks have ever read the 24th amendment?
They should simply put the scofflaws in jail, but make sure that they may vote absentee.
#4 “I wonder if these folks have ever read the 24th amendment?”
You might want to re-read the 24th Amendment.
#5: Put people in jail for non-payment of fees or charges?
I suppose that murderers and rapists should be turned loose to make room for such “scofflaws.”