"Only Got To Vote If You Paid Your Poll Tax" by Joy Graham

Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas

Only Got To Vote If You Paid Your Poll Tax

Milam History by Joy Graham

Rockdale Reporter - June 13, 2013

I am not sure how parents are teaching their children in today’s society, I can only

reflect on my upbringing. I was taught my responsibility was to become knowledgeable of

the candidates wanting to serve and vote for the person(s) I thought most qualified.

They instilled in me that “voting” is a privilege.

Alcoa moved to Sandow, Milam County, Texas and in December 1953 the Rockdale Ranger

carried an article written by Charles C. Smith, Jr., Milam County Judge on voting

requirements in Texas: “a person must be 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen, have lived in

Texas for a year and for six months in the district or county. Poll tax must be paid

before Feb. 1.”

At that time the State poll tax was $1.75 per person and paid to the County Tax

Assessor-Collector. Gaither Motor Co. in Rockdale was a deputy tax collector, so you

could pay in Rockdale or at the Tax Assessors’ office in Cameron.

Other important elections such as school trustee, bond, property tax and prohibition

could be brought up with as little as 30 days notice. A citizen had to meet the

requirements and paid his poll tax to vote.

In 1964, the election at the national level was the first one in which no poll tax was

required to vote in federal elections, though the tax survived for state and local

elections. The 24th amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect that year,

abolishing poll tax as a voting requirement for President, Vice President, U.S.

senators and representatives in Congress. If you wanted to vote in Texas, different

ballots had to be provided for voters qualified for all elections and for those voting

only in federal elections.

In 1971, the legislature eliminated the annual registration requirement and provided

instead a continuing registration system, whereby voters were automatically registered

after participating in primaries or elections.

On Aug. 27, 1973, the 63rd Texas Legislature granted persons 18 years old all the

privileges granted those 21 years old. Neither the change in registration laws nor the

vote for 18 year olds came voluntarily. All changes in Texas election laws were fought

by Texas Legislature and came only after the U.S. Supreme Court decisions against

Texas’ position and amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Registration in person or by mail is usually with the county tax assessor-collector. It

can be allowed any time; but one must be registered 30 days before an election to vote.

Research: Rockdale Ranger 1953 “Poll Tax” by Charles C. Smith, Jr. County Judge, Milam County Election Laws:

The Handbook of Texas Online, State Historical Commission 6/9/2013 6:24 p.m.

maryjoygraham@yahoo.com

All credit for this article goes to
Joy Graham
and the
Rockdale Reporter