Which amendment abolished poll taxes in federal elections?

• A. The Twenty-Second Amendment
• B. The Twenty-Fourth Amendment
• C. The Nineteenth Amendment
• D. The Fifteenth Amendment

Answer: (B)

The amendment that abolished poll taxes in federal elections is the Twenty-Fourth Amendment. Ratified in 1964, this amendment specifically prohibits the imposition of poll taxes in federal elections, as it was recognized that such taxes disproportionately disenfranchised low-income voters, particularly African Americans and poor whites in the Southern states.

This change was part of a broader civil rights movement effort to eliminate barriers to voting that were used to suppress specific populations. The passage of the Twenty-Fourth Amendment was a significant victory in the fight for equal voting rights, reaffirming the principle that access to the ballot should not be limited by a financial burden.

In contrast to the other amendments listed, the Twenty-Second Amendment deals with presidential term limits, the Nineteenth Amendment grants women the right to vote, and the Fifteenth Amendment prohibits voting discrimination based on race. Each of these amendments focuses on different aspects of voting rights but does not address poll taxes specifically.