What was the purpose of a literacy test in voting?

The purpose of a literacy test in voting was primarily to prove reading and writing proficiency. Such tests were historically implemented in various states, especially in the southern United States, as a means of disenfranchising specific groups, particularly African American voters and, to some extent, poor white voters. By requiring individuals to demonstrate their literacy skills, these tests served as a barrier to voting, often accompanied by subjective evaluation by those administering the tests.

These literacy tests could include complex passages and questions that may have been difficult for many to interpret or answer correctly, regardless of their actual literacy level. This practice was part of a broader system of Jim Crow laws designed to enforce racial segregation and prevent African Americans from exercising their voting rights following the Reconstruction era. Therefore, understanding the historical context of literacy tests reveals their role as tools of exclusion in the electoral process.