AMENDMENT 49 RATIFIED

Poll Tax Exemption Amendment.

Exemption of veterans of foreign wars from payment of poll tax.

No person who honorably served in the military service of the United States between January 1, 1917 and November 11, 1918, or between September 16, 1940 and December 8, 1941, or at any time, past or present or future, when the United States was, is or shall be at war with any foreign state, shall be required after the beginning of such service to pay the poll tax specified in the Constitution of Alabama as a prerequisite to the privilege of voting in Alabama; but, on the contrary, every such person shall be exempt from the payment of all poll taxes which have theretofore accrued and have not been paid or which may thereafter accrue; provided, however, that if any such person is discharged dishonorably from said service the exemption herein provided is forfeited, and such dishonorably discharged person, as a prerequisite to the privilege of voting in Alabama thereafter, must pay the poll tax specified in the Constitution of Alabama as if such person had never been in such service. The term "military service" as used in this section includes service in the army of the United States, the United States navy, the marine corps, the coast guard, the women's army auxiliary corps, the women's appointed volunteer emergency service, and the women's reserve of the United States navy. The United States shall not be deemed at war with a foreign state within the meaning of this section at a time when an armistice exists between the United States and the foreign state. The judge of probate shall issue a certificate of exemption to a person exempt from the payment of poll tax by reason of this section under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the governor. This section shall be self-executing and retroactive; but the legislature is authorized to enact laws designed to carry out the purposes of this section.