Digges Amendment

The Digges Amendment was an amendment to the Maryland Constitution proposed in 1910 by the Democratic Party. The amendment would have used property requirements for voter registration to effectively disfranchise many African Americans (as well as poorer whites, including recent European immigrants) in the state. Democrats William J. Frere and Walter Digges were responsible for framing the bill.^[1]

At the general election, the amendment was rejected by the people of Maryland.^[1]

History

The amendment would have required that individuals have $500 worth of property and have records of having paid taxes for two years prior to an election in order to register to vote. It was intended to disfranchise African Americans, as were other constitutional amendments and laws passed by former Confederate states since 1890. In practice, the detailed record keeping, property and tax requirements would have also discriminated against poorer white residents, including newer immigrants.^[1]

The amendment was passed by the Democratic-dominated Maryland General Assembly and approved by Governor Austin Lane Crothers, but ratification required approval by voters. Before the people had a chance to vote on the amendment, the Democrats proposed a bill that would have separately authorized the requirements of the Digges Amendment. After a public outcry, the legislature stepped back and did not pass the bill.

References