Speech #890032857

There are between 450.000 and 480.000 Puerto Rican citizens of voting age in New York City. Depending on which estimate is correct. the number of these citizens who are not registered to vote is anywhere from 225.000 to 330.000. Many of those who are not registered have been refused because they cannot pass New York States English language literacy test. even though they are literate in Spanish. having been educated in that language in schools under the American flag in Puerto Rico. In my judgment Congress can and should find that the operation of New Yorks literacy test to deprive literate Puerto Ricans of the right to vote is State action arbitrarily denying the franchise to a class of citizens. These Puerto Ricans have not only been educated under the American flag in Puerto Rico. but are well informed about public issues through a great variety of Spanishlanguage newspapers and periodicals. and radio and television programs. They should no longer be deprived of their right to vote because they cannot pass an English language literacy test. Their educational achievement in their native Puerto Rico should no longer go unrecognized. This amendment is constitutional.