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ALT Could you have voted? The laws about who can vote have changed many times during North Carolina’s History. Read below. Pick a year. Then see whether you would have been able to vote!
ALT 1776: North Carolina’s first “state” constitution is written. It links voting to wealth and property ownership. WHITE MEN: Maybe. If you pay taxes, you can vote for members of the state House of Commons. If you own 50 or more acres of land, you can vote for the state senate. MEN OF COLOR: That’s a big maybe… If you are a free African American or American Indian AND if you pay taxes or own 50 or more acres of land. Enslaved people of color can’t vote. WHITE WOMEN & WOMEN OF COLOR: Nope. 1835: North Carolina’s state constitution is greatly amended. Some men gain voting rights; others lose them. WHITE MEN: Yes. All white men can vote for governor and for members of the state House of Commons (representatives). Only men who own 50 or more acres of land can vote for members of the state senate. MEN OF COLOR: Not anymore. Free African American and American Indian men lose their voting rights. Enslaved people of color still can’t vote. WHITE WOMEN & WOMEN OF COLOR: Still nope.
ALT 1868: A new state constitution is needed before North Carolina can rejoin the Union after the Civil War. WHITE MEN: Yep. There are no longer any voting restrictions based on wealth. MEN OF COLOR: Yes. There are no longer any voting restrictions based on race. WHITE WOMEN & WOMEN OF COLOR: Still a big no. 1900: A “suffrage” amendment is added to the state constitution. It effectively eliminates voting rights for most men of color by imposing poll taxes, literacy tests, and other voter suppression tactics. WHITE MEN: Probably. Poll taxes discourage voting among some poor whites. But most white men can avoid being disqualified by literacy tests due to a “grandfather clause” that allows them to vote if they, or their direct ancestor, could vote on January 1, 1867. MEN OF COLOR: Probably not. Poll taxes and intentionally unfair voter registration requirements stop most African American and American Indian men from voting. WHITE WOMEN & WOMEN OF COLOR: More than a century and still no.
ALT 1920: The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution grants voting rights to women. Jim Crow voter suppression methods continue to disenfranchise most women of color. WHITE MEN: Yes. Nothing limits the voting rights of white men. MEN OF COLOR: Most likely not. Literacy tests are still unfairly applied to African American and American Indian men. WHITE WOMEN: Finally, yes. The 19th Amendment, which is ratified without North Carolina’s support, gives white women the right to vote for the first time. WOMEN OF COLOR: Very unlikely. 1965: The US Congress passes the Voting Rights Act. WHITE MEN: Yes. All white men age 21 or older can vote. MEN OF COLOR: At last, yes. Men of color in North Carolina regain full access to voter registration. WHITE WOMEN: Yep. All white women age 21 and older can vote. WOMEN OF COLOR: At long last, yes. 1971: The 26th Amendment lowers the voting age from 21 to 18. WHITE MEN: Still good. MEN OF COLOR: yes. WHITE WOMEN: You bet. WOMEN OF COLOR: Yep.
