The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-10
rhe Registration LaM

. O - /
The Registration Law.
We cannot quite agree with some OF
our friends who favor the retention Of
the registration law, in modified form,
on our statute books. We are unable
to see any advantage in registry law
in West Virginia, which is not con-
pletely overbalanced by the disadyan-
taees which must attend the execution
of any such law in this State, 1t IS
said that registry law is useful in pre-
venting fraudulent voting, and, possibly,
in large cities, where the population Is
continually shifting, and where even
neighbors are strangers to each other
there may be some necessity for regis
try Of the voters in each precinct or
ward. But in State as sparsely popu-
lated as West Virginia is, and where
every man in a township or election
precinctis personally acquainted with
every other man who has right to
vote in that place, a register is super
fluous and unnecessary. ID is scarcely
possible to find, anywhere in the State,
an election board of three men who do
not know personally every voter in the
q. precinct, where he lives, and how long
he has been there
But, even if this were not the case,
there are other, cheaper and simpler
means Of preventing fraudulent voting,
than by a registry law. Many OF the
larger and older States Of the Union
have no registration laws and yet
guard well the purity of the ballot. In
Ohio, for instance, where some of the
townships have as many voters as are
to be found in whole counties in West
Virginia, and where one or two cities
equal in population our entire State,
there is no registration Of voters, and
vet we never hear any complaint from
either political party that fraudulent
voting has been extensively practiced.
There was no complaint of fraudulent
voting under the old system in Virginia,
and the change from the viva voce man.
ner to that Of secret ballot does not ma
terially increase the chances for fraud,
at least, not in any respect that can be
olr;o+ol h., rar;etrat iop
1t is suggested by some of our Demo
cratic friends that, in counties and town
ships where the Radicals have ma
jority of the election officers, they may,
in the absence Of registration law, re-
fuse to receive the votes of Democrats
who would be duly registered by
Democratic board and entitled to vote
by virtue of such registration, if the
law were retained in force But it
should be remembered that the super
visor or inspectors of election who would
violate one election law would also vio-
late another. If they reject. the ballot
of any man legally entitled to vote in
the absence of the registration law, they
would not scruple to reject him even
though his name had been recorded by
the registrar. For this kind of viola
tons of law, the voter will have his
remedy in the courts, and the legisla-
ture will be grossly derelict in its duties
lift fails to destroy the immunity from
punishment which has heretofore
q shielded election officers in the grossest
outrages upon the right of citizens to
vote, which their prejudice or their in
terests melted them to commit
Our present registration law is as
odious and unpopular measure as was
ever forced upon an unwilling people.
Leaving out the test oath with all its
iniquity, the law would still be in dero-
CATION Of the rights of the people
The appointment of registrars by the
Governor would still remain fruitful
source of embarrassment to the Execu-
p tive and Of complaint on the part of
the people, for, let him be as careful as
he may, he will still be liable to APP
point some unworthy registrar; and
such is the odium attached to the po-
sition that in many counties it would be
difficult to find competent and accepta-
bic men who would be willing to serve.
But, even if the registrars were chosen
by the people and were the very best
men to be found in the county, the
law would still be Objectionable on &C
count Of the number of unnecessary
Offices its creates, the expense attend
ing its execution, and the inconveni-
q ence it occasions to the voter. The
people expect the Democracy to reduce
the administration Of the State govern
ment to the simplest, cheapest and most
economical form consistent with the
: ends in view. The abolition of our
present system of registration will be
an important step in the way of reform.
1t will save the State annually several
thousands Of dollars, for, no matter
how the present law may be modified,
any, system of registration whatever
8 win be attended with expense. The
inconvenience to which the citizen
s 10 u subjected in leaving = his
business engagements to go before the
registrar and apply for registration,