Smith v. Allwright (1940)
- Docket
- 51
- Decided
- 1940-1955-
Summary
Question: Did denying blacks the right to vote in primary elections violate the Constitution? Conclusion: In an opinion written by Justice Stanley F. Reed, the Court struck down the law. The Court reasoned that the rule restricting primary voters to whites denied Smith equal protection under the law in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. By delegating its authority to the Democratic Party to regulate its primaries, the state was allowing discrimination to be practiced, which was unconstitutional. Justice Feliex Franfurter concurred. Justice Owen J. Roberts dissented.