The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-10-11

1u0 inquiry is now becoming peril
nent to very many voters, "are you
properly registered ?" for if you are
not you will lose your vote at the COM
ing election. Il is particularly impor-
tant in such an election as that now
pending, that every voter should be
lawfully registered, for while we desire
the success of our principles, we would
be very sorry to see any man disfran-
chised for neglect to comply with the
salutary provisions of the Registry
law. While it is important that the
right of suffrage should be strictly
guarded and kept inviolate an the hands
of those legally entitled to use it, it is
also equally important that every man
who is a legal voter, should know that
he is properly enrolled on the registry
book of his town or village, to the end
that no dispute or mistake may arise
as to his qualification, at the polls.
Under the Registry law it is necessa-
ny that every voter should be properly
entered by his full christian and sur-
name; his residence distinctly and cor
reotly described, in townships by the
section or sub division on which he re-
sides, and in cities and villages, by the
lot, block or street. We exhort all to
remember this, and to cheerful and
exact compliance with the law in this
particular, as removing all doubt and
opportunity for mistake or imposition
at the election poll. If you are not al
ready thus prepared, make it your first
duty to comply with the law, and not
seek to postpone and avoid so plain a
duty. hot y's,i
We publish the following brief syn
opsis Of the law, that every reader may
understand his rights and duties in the
premises 7aliei e5 = e s1s
Section provides for board of reg
istration, books, &c. The books $50
made and arranged as to contain an al
phabetical list of the respective names,
christian and baptismal, and surnames
in full, of all persons" constitutionally
qualified voters, Sand the date of the
registration; and, if the electer resides
in city or incorporated village, also
his residence by the number of the
dwelling and the name of the street, if
any, and if none, description of the
locality of the same.'' eog od
Section IL provides that voters,
whose names have not been previously
registered, may apply to the township
clerk, in person, for the registration of
his name; the name of such supplicant
shall be written either by himself or
the clerk upon separate paper to be
kept by the clerk his residence des-H
cribed and the date of the entry noted,
which paper shall be laid before the
Board of Registration of each town
ship at its next meeting 0he Saturday
next preceding the election) for examin-
alton and review. And if, in the opin-
ion of the board, such persons are quail
lied voters, DC, their names may be
entered in the proper register, in the
manner above set forth. 1t also pro-
yides for the punishment of applicants
who use fraud to obtain the registration
of their names. -.f,..r
Section II provides for the annual
meeting of the Board of Registration,
and their duties, &c. At that time per-
sons who have not previously regis
tered, may apply and write, or cause to
be written, their names in the register.
Section Is declares that no person
whose name does not appear on the
register on the day of the, election,
shall not be entitled to vote, unless he
shall make oath himself that he was
prevented by sickness of himself or
family, or was necessarily absent from
town, and so could not make applica-
ton to be registered, and if, further,
some qualified elector of the township,
and not a candidate for any Office at
that election, shall take an oath before
the inspectors Of election to the same
state of facts, his name may be entered
upon the register and his vote received.
The name of a person is to be regis
tered but once SO long as he remains
resident of the township or ward. 3
These are the main features of the
law, that particularly effect the voter.
Those who desire to read the whole
act will find it in the Session Laws so,
commencing on page 4s0. Lea 81 Z !
We earnestly ask the township clerks
throughout the county to post them
selves thoroughly upon the require
ments of the law, so that no mistakes
shall occur in the entry of names, and
in all cases where defective entries
have been made let them he corrected