What does a grandfather clause allow?

A grandfather clause is a legal provision that allows individuals to bypass certain regulations based on their status or circumstances that existed prior to the implementation of those regulations. In the context of voting, particularly during the Jim Crow era, the grandfather clause was used to exempt individuals from literacy tests, poll taxes, or other voting restrictions if their ancestors had the right to vote before a specific date. This effectively allowed many white voters to avoid disenfranchisement while disenfranchising many Black voters and those from other marginalized groups who did not have the same ancestry.

Thus, the choice that indicates exempting people from literacy tests based on ancestry captures the essence of what a grandfather clause allowed. This clause served to reinforce existing social hierarchies under the guise of legal standards, highlighting its historical significance in the realm of voting rights and access to the electoral process.