Which amendment prohibits poll taxes in federal elections?

• A. 23rd Amendment
• B. 24th Amendment
• C. 25th Amendment
• D. 26th Amendment

Answer: (B)

Poll taxes were fees used in some states to keep people, especially African Americans and poorer citizens, from voting. The 24th Amendment, ratified in 1964, makes it unconstitutional to require payment of a poll tax in federal elections, so no one can be barred from voting for that reason when voting for President, Vice President, or members of Congress. This directly protects the right to participate in federal elections by removing a financial barrier. For context, later decisions extended similar protections to state elections, but the amendment itself specifically targets federal elections. The other amendments address different issues: one expands presidential voting rights for Washington, D.C. residents; another sets presidential succession rules; another lowers the voting age to 18.