The principal reason was that the State of New York requires that its voters be literate in English. This literacy must be demonstrated by a test in reading comprehension. but it is waived if any applicant to vote can submit proof of an eighth grade education in an accredited Englishlanguage school. My amendment. which the other Body approved overwhelmingly on the recommendation of both Senators from New York. provides that any American who has successfully completed the sixth grade in an accredited school under the jurisdiction of the American flagand this includes Spanishlanguage schools in the Commonwealth of Puerto Ricowill not be denied the right to vote by a literacy test in English. The amendment makes execption for States. such as New York itself. which currently have a standard other than the sixth grade for presumption of literacy. This amendment.
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literacy test