Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. – Hebrews 13:15
On today’s date in 1964, the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified by a majority of states. This amendment established a standard prohibiting state and federal governments from imposing a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting. Following the end of the Civil War, Southern states adopted poll taxes to make it harder for people of color to participate in elections. The previously passed 15th Amendment prohibited preventing people from voting on the basis of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Southern states passed many laws intended to disenfranchise African Americans without explicitly mentioning these protected classes. At the time the 24th Amendment was passed, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia still had poll taxes in place. Ask the Lord today to enable leaders to protect the right to vote.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For elected officials to recognize their responsibility to govern in a manner that represents the electorate.
- For officials at all levels of government to respect and protect the rights of citizens to cast their ballots.
