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Historical Notes: Women Great of Heart
In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibited the states from denying the right to vote based on sex. Nevertheless, Alabama and many other states maintained voting requirements, such as the poll tax and literacy tests, that prevented women and minorities from voting until long after 1920. Alabama finally ratified the 19th Amendment in 1954, 34 years after it had taken effect. In 1964, the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibited states from denying the right to vote based on failure to pay poll taxes or any other tax. Alabama began allowing women to serve on juries in 1966. The Alabama Constitution of 1901 remains in effect today, with 665 amendments; 46 more proposed amendments are on the November 2000 ballot.