New York Constitution, (1821) excerpt
Printer Friendly Format: New York Constitution.pdf
Context: In 1821 New York amended its constitution to change voting requirements. At the time, the state had begun the very long process of abolishing slavery, complete abolition was not completed until 1827. In 1821, when the change below was made, the average male worker received less than $1 per day in wages (source: National Bureau of Economic Research - http://www.nber.org/chapters/c2486.pdf ) . Note that the term below: “shall be seized and possessed” means that the person must own the item.
Article II, Section 1.
Every male citizen of the age of twenty-one years, who shall have been an inhabitant of this state one year preceding any election, and for the last six months a resident of the town or county where he may offer his vote; and shall have, within the next year preceding the election, paid a tax to the state or county, assessed upon his real or personal property; or shall by law be exempted from taxation; or, being armed and equipped according to law, shall have performed, within that year, military duty in the militia of this state; or who shall be exempted from performing militia duty in consequence of being a fireman in any city, town, or village in this state; and also, every male citizen of the age of twenty-one years, who shall have been, for three years next preceding such election, an inhabitant of this state; and, for the last year, a resident in the town or county where he may offer his vote; and shall have been, within the last year, assessed to labor upon the public highways, and shall have performed the labor, or paid an equivalent therefor, according to law, shall be entitled to vote in the town or ward where he actually resides, and not elsewhere, for all officers that now are, or hereafter may be, elective by the people; but no man of colour, unless he shall have been for three years a citizen of this state, and for one year next preceding any election, shall be seized and possessed of a freehold estate of the value of two hundred and fifty dollars, over and above all debts and incumbrances charged thereon; and shall have been actually rated, and paid a tax thereon, shall be entitled to vote at any such election. And no person of colour shall be subject to direct taxation unless he shall be seized and possessed of such real estate as aforesaid.
Context by: Prof. Seth Offenbach
Original Citation: http://nysa32.nysed.gov/education/showcase/201011afamvoting/trans_1821.shtml