Which term refers to tests requiring reading or comprehension as a qualification for voting?

• A. Poll Tax
• B. Literacy Tests
• C. Suffrage
• D. Disenfranchised

Answer: (B)

Tests that require reading or comprehension to qualify for voting are called literacy tests. The central idea is that eligibility hinges on demonstrated literacy, rather than just meeting basic voting age or residency requirements. Historically, literacy tests were used, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, to gatekeep access to the ballot and often targeted marginalized groups, contributing to disenfranchisement. The term directly names the ability being assessed—reading and understanding language on ballots or instructions. Poll taxes involve paying money to vote, not a reading requirement; suffrage refers to the voting right itself; and disenfranchised describes losing that right, not the specific test used to determine eligibility.