Looks Like a Poll Tax

In the recent stories concerning Georgia's photo ID requirement for voters, much has been made of a possible violation of the Voting Rights Act. However, a higher authority is available -- the Constitution.

The 24th Amendment bars a poll tax in federal elections, and poll taxes in state elections were barred under the 1966 Supreme Court decision in Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections . If citizens are required to purchase a photo ID, at a cost of $20 every five years, in order to vote, I hope the Supreme Court would see that as the equivalent of a poll tax.

ROY G. SALTMAN

Columbia