It is important that these arbitrary restrictions on the right to vote be struck down. It is gratifying that the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee has agreed to accept a floor amendment that will prohibit the denial of the right to vote in any election to any person because of his inability to read. write. or understand English if he has successfully completed the sixth grade in a public or accredited private school in any State. territory. the District of Columbia. or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in which the predominant classroom language was other than English. I am happy to support this amendment that will end the disenfranchisement of thousands of American citizens of Puerto Rican origin who have been unable to qualify as voters due to State Englishlanguage literacy tests. The voting rights bill of 1965 is no Invasion of State sovereignty. It does no more than Congress should have done years ago.
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literacy tests