Why did the all-white primary law disfranchise black voters in Texas, when they could still vote in the general election?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The all-white primary law in Texas was significant because, at the time, the Democratic Party was the dominant political party in the state. This meant that the primary election was often the only competitive election, as the winner of the Democratic primary was usually guaranteed to win in the general election. By preventing black voters from participating in the primary election, they were effectively disenfranchised since they had no real voice in selecting their elected officials. While they could technically still vote in the general election, their options were limited to candidates who had already been chosen by the all-white primary. This severely limited black political power and made it difficult for them to improve their situation.

Why Did the All-White Primary Law Disfranchise Black Voters in Texas