The expressed justification for such requirements is that they serve to weed out the informed from the uninformed voter. In view of the availability of numerous sources of data on candidates and political issues. other than in printed form. it is obvious that many wellinformed voters can be excluded by this process. Furthermore. there is no guarantee that the literate citizen. who is allowed to vote. has used his skills to become informed about election issues and candidates. Essentially. in recommending a permanent ban on literacy tests. we rely on facts to which Mr. Justice Douglas referred in Oregon v. MitcheU. 400 U.S. 112 (1970). the Supreme Courts decision upholding the constitutionality of the temporary nationwide test suspension.
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literacy tests