 Louisiana State legislators passed a new constitution in 1898 that included requirements for applicants to pass a literacy test in English or his native language in order to register to vote, or to certify owning $300 worth of property, known as a property requirement.The literacy test was administered by the voting registrar; in practice, they were white Democrats.Provisions in the constitution also included a grandfather clause, which provided a loophole to enable illiterate whites to register to vote.