poll tax

American  

[pohl] / poʊl /

noun

1. a capitation tax, the payment of which is sometimes a prerequisite to exercise the right of suffrage.

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poll tax British  

noun

1. a tax levied per head of adult population

2. an informal name for (the former) community charge

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poll tax Cultural  

1. A tax required as a qualification for voting. After the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution extended the vote to blacks in 1870, many southern states instituted poll taxes to prevent blacks from voting. The Twenty-fourth Amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1964, prohibits poll taxes for federal elections.

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Etymology

Origin of poll tax

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

“As a Black man whose grandfather paid a poll tax, this whole ordeal is infuriating,” said Mr. Menefee, a Democrat.

From New York Times

Moore called the legislation an attempt to make it harder for people to vote, comparing it to how her parents once had to save money throughout the year in order to to pay poll taxes.

From Washington Times

He opposed the introduction of the community charge, or poll tax as it came to be known, but was over-ruled by Thatcher.

From BBC

In 1965, Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed practices designed to disenfranchise Black voters by banning literary tests and poll taxes.

From Seattle Times

They all came from the poll taxes, I mean, from the poll tax sheet.

From Seattle Times