Now. I would like to turn to another provision of H.R. 6219. That provision would make permanent what is now a temporary nationwide ban on the use of literacy tests and other devices. In this age when electronic media serve to inform the great bulk of the populace on issues of national and local concern. it is simply unthinkable that a State might be allowed to limit the franchise to only those who can read and write. If the purpose of the literacy test is to insure an informed electorate. then surely the Congress can now find that that purpose can be achieved without the imposition of a literacy test. Moreover. it is imperative that we disallow such testssince they have historically been the tools of abuse in denying minorities. with poor educational backgrounds. the franchise. In addition to extending the Voting Rights Act. on the basis of other documentation found in the record.
Identified stereotypes
Minorities have poor educational backgrounds.