About Poll Tax

Poll Tax Receipt

My daddy was beat committeeman in this beat (27) for over 40 years.  Now some of this may repetitive — you might rather read the phone book —  it seems I’ve told you some of this before.

Poll tax was a big thing in its day.  Prior to an election candidate after candidate would come here and, with daddy advising, they would go over the list of registered voters – seeing who had paid the poll tax and who hadn’t.  Of course, when the candidate paid the poll tax he was buying a vote.  It cost $1.50 per year to vote and that was sizable in that day.  As far back as I can remember Daddy never invited the candidates to come inside — rather they sat in the car to do such.  I wonder how they managed before they had cars.

I’ve heard Daddy tell stories about sitting near the polls in his buggy and people would come to him and ask him how he thought they should vote.  This was before radio and very few newspapers.  He said he could elect the candidate of his choice and never get out of the buggy.  Later I hauled voters who didn’t have transportation to the polls and I’ve even helped carry a ballot to the home bound.  My how times have changed.

My parents married in 1919 and it was 1920 when women could vote. That caused some heated discussion in this house.  Mother was from a Republican family and Daddy was a staunch Democrat.  Mother had lived in Chattanooga and Tucson and I wonder if she ever marched on behalf women suffrage.   She was a strong individual and just may have been a part of that.  Oh how I wish I had asked more questions!  I also wonder if she voted like Daddy wanted her to!  This is just a few memories of olden days and their country living.