Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-08-04
OFFICE-BUENA VISTA STREET.
our Job Printing Department.
THE REGISTRATION LAW.

A bill to be entitled an act to provide
 for registration of the legal voters
 in the state of Arkansas. .. .sl tt BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL As- sEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANsAs: l:
 SEC. l. That on or before the first day of August, 1868, and every two years thereafter, the governor shall, with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint three loyal, competent and discreet citizens in each county, who shall have resided at least six months in the county next preceding their appointment; said persons to be styled and called "bOard of registra- tion," one of whom shall be designated by the governor as president of said board Provided, That in case no such persons can be found in each county within the state then, and in that case, they shall be appointed from the coun- ty most convenient thereto, each of whom shall serve two years unless re- moved as provided hereinafter: And provided further, That the governor, in lieu of one of the citizens to be ap- pointed as above provided for in this section, may designate a justice of the peace, notary public or constable as one of the members of said board of regis tration, who shall in every such case be designated as president of said board and every justice of the peace, notary public or constable who may be designated by the governor as & mem- Der of said board for any county in this state. shall in addition to the duties now imposed upon him by law dis charge the duties of president of such ,,,,Scaard of registration according to the provisions of this act.
 SEC. ?. The governor shall fill any vacancy occurring in any of the ap- pointments made by him, and may in his discretion remove any one so ap- pointed by him, for imcompetency or other sufficient cause. The secretary of state shall cause notice by certificate to be given to each of the persons, and shall also transmit to the clerks of the county court of each county the names of the persons so appointed as board Of registration.
 SEQ. 3. The president of the board shall cause printed notices to be given in conformity with the provisions of section seven, of the times and places he will begin to register, at least ten days before registration, by three handbills posted up at public places ill each elec- toral precinct, district or ward.
 SEC. 4. The president and each ofthe registrars, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, shall take and subscribe the oath of franchise of sec- ton five, article eight, and oath of of flee prescribed in section IF, of article 15 of the constitution.
 SEC. 5. The county court Of each county shall on or before the 18th day of August, 1868, revise the formation of election precincts in each county, and any time thereafter, if it shall be- come necessary, and shall as far as the public convenience will admit establish the election districts by precincts, dis tricts or wards of a city or town, or other municipal subdivisions as the court may think best; and the county court clerk shall immediately after said day certify to the president of the board of registration all election precincts in the county, who shall upon receipt of the books as hereinafter provided, pro- ceed to register the voters in all the precincts, wards or districts of his county.
 SEC. 6. The governor shall cause to be prepared the form of books and cer' tificates for the registration of voters on or before the first day of September 1868, and shall cause copies Of sucl books to be deposited with each clerk of the county court. The expenses o preparing and transmitting such books shall be paid out of the state treasury upon the certificate of the governor The clerks of the county courts shal deliver to the president of the board o registration a sufficient number O. books and certificates for the registra ton of all the voters in each precinct district or ward. :.
 SEC. '. The president of the board of registration in each county shall at tend in discharge of his duties at tht usual places of voting, as declared by the county court, in each electoral pre- cinct, district or ward within the coun ty, commencing not more than sixt. days before the day of election in eacl year of general election, and ending on or before the tenth day next pre- ceding such election, and continuing ol duty at each election precinct, dlstric or ward in such county not less thai one nor more than three days, and shal on each day be in attendance for th' purpose of registration from nln' o'clock in the morning till o'clock II the evening. If from any cause th' president of the board of registration is unable to attend in any election pre- cinct or ward at the time appointed either one of the remaining registrar shall be authorized to proceed with th' registration in the order as their name so appear in their certificates Of ap pointments to be numbered by th' governor.
 SEQ. s. In the books furnished to tn board of registration in each county there shall be printed the oath pre- scribed in section five, under the neat of "franchise," of the constitution, fol lowed by space sufficient for each vote to subscribe his name thereto, whic shall be written in full, and re-writtel by the registrar so as the name shai not be misunderstood, and no person name shall be registered as qualine' voter unless he appear before the reg istrar and take and subscribe said oat provided for under the eighth arficl and section five of the constitution.
 SEC. 9. Each registrar shall hay power to examine, under oath, an person applying for registration as ' his qualifications as a voter; ana shall, before entering the name or an person on the registry of qualified vo ters, diligently inquire and ascertal that he has not done any or the ac' specified in the constitution as cause : of disqualification; and II rom ea tnel own Knowledge or evidence orougn before them they shall be satisfied tha any person seeking registration is dis oualified under any provisions of tn Constitution, they shall not enter hl name on the list of qualified voters though he may have taken and sur scribed before them the oath aforesaid Each or all of the registrars shall hay