In absolute numbers. more whites living in America are functionally illiterate than are minority group members. Mr. Chairman. it is safe to assume that if the literacy test ban is not extended. millions of voting age Americansblacks and Spanishspeaking citizens disproportionatelywould again be excluded from participating in our democratic system. the same system that in the first instance failed in its responsibility to provide all Americans alike with the most fundamental of learning skills. the capacity to read and write. Ten years ago. when the original Voting Rights Act was first passed. it was designed to meet the needs of minorities who were being denied the right to vote. Since then. the situation has improved greatly in those areas which the act was designed to affect.
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literacy test