D.C. DEAR MR. THOMPSON: This is in reply to your letter asking about the effect of the United States Voting Rights Act of 1965 on the use of literacy tests in the state of Washington. The effect of the federal act in the state of Washington is fully explained in an opinIon of the Attorney General 1967No. 21 and opinion letter of this office to Honorable A. Ludlow Kramer. Secretary of State. dated Septembei 20. 1966. copies of which are enclosed. We understand that the Secretary of State. as Chief Elections Officer. has distributed copies of these opinions to all election officers throughout the state. along with instruction on the necessary changes in procedure where literacy tests have been used. We believe that as a result of these actions. tests of literacy in English are no longer used anywhere in this state. A bill is presently pending in the Washington legislature to amend our registration laws to eliminate references to literacy tests and to conform the questions required to be asked of appliances to those permitted by federal law. In short. Washingtons response to the federal legislation has been not to make literacy tests university. but to eliminate them. relying on the applicants sworn statement that he can read and write English. or Spanish. if educated in Puerto Rico. Since you have sent personal regards to John OConnell. we should say that John chose not to run for reelection as Attorney General. but to run for Governor instead. He was unsuccessful in that race and is now in private practice in Tacoma with the law firm of Gordon.
Keywords matched
literacy tests