Reading Room Document

Analysis of Constitutionality of Proposed Voting Rights Act

This document is a memorandum to the Attorney General analyzing the constitutionality of the proposed Voting Rights Act amendments of 1969. It discusses the extension of the ban on literacy tests to all 50 states and the prohibition against extended state residency requirements for presidential elections. The conclusions reached in the document include the defense of constitutionality under the 14th and 15th amendments, as well as the potential constitutional problems raised by the proposed legislation. The document also presents questions regarding the nationwide prohibition of literacy tests and the imposition of state residency requirements for presidential elections.

July 10, 1969