Speech #870188145

This is true either because the drafters of the bill did not intend section 1 to have any legal effect or because section 1 is unconstitutional. Section 1 recites. in essence. that State election officials frequently pervert State literacy and understanding tests to rob literate Negroes. possessing all other legal qualifications for voting. of their right to vote in Federal elections solely upon racial grounds. that persons who have completed six primary grades in a public school or accredited private school cannot reasonably be denied the right to vote in Federal elections because of illiteracy. that lack of proficiency in the English language does not provide any reasonable basis for excluding Spanishspeaking citizens of America from the right to vote in Federal elections. that existing statutes are inadequate to assure that all qualified persons shall enjoy the right to vote in Federal elections. and that Congress has the power under the Constitution to enact section 2 of the bill. The recitation that lack of proficiency in the English language does not provide a reasonable basis for excluding Spanish speaking citizens of America of the right to vote is wholly inconsistent with the recent decision of the Supreme Court adjudging valid State laws restricting literacy tests to proficiency in the English languageLassiter v. Northampton County Elections Board (360 U.S. 45. 3 L. Ed. (2d) 1072).