Question

Elections will be free and open and every qualified person
will have an equal right to elect officers and to be elected.

People do not have to own property in order to be elected
or to hold office.

Voting rights will be protected by state election laws.

The bullets in the list were adapted from Articles 31 through 33 of the South Carolina Constitution of 1868. What do these articles show about the intentions of the writers?
A.
Voting rights and political office would not be denied to men or to women.
B.
Wealthy property owners would be appointed to fill most political positions.
C.
Freedmen would hold a set percentage of important political offices.
D.
Voting rights and political office would not depend on wealth or race.

Answer 1

D

The clauses remove property qualifications and guarantee equal electoral rights, reflecting an intent that access to voting and office not be based on wealth or race (rather than reserving rights by gender or giving offices to property owners).