The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-08-23
tF'rom the Cleveland Plain Dealer |
The Registration Law.

The Registration Law.
Editor Plain Dealer:
1t is very important that our public
Journals keep before the people th
so-called registration act, passed by
the last General Assembly of Ohio.
This is most infamous law, impos.
ing upon the laboring masses of this
State unreasonable duties and obliga.
tions, and subjecting them to cruel
penslties, calculated to subvert and i'm.
pede the right OF suffrage 10 the par
| ticular class of voters to whom it ap.
plies. In many cases this law will
| work an absolute disfranchisement OF
men who are legal voters under the
Constitution of Ohio, and prohibit the
right to vote altogether.
This makes its practical operation
partial and unjust TO such desl &c
that no candid man can read and com
prehcnd fully its requirements with
ont condemnation.
The first section provides that no
person shall be permitted to vote at
any election unless he shall have been
resident of the State of Ohio one
year, n resident of the county three
hundred and sixty days, and resident
of the township, village or ward
i'm which he resides and offers to vote,
three hundred and fifty-five days next
preccd iRg the election.
The gal sequence of this provisioa
is, that all citizens who have resided
i'll the state one year, in the county
three hundred and sixty days, and in
the township or ward three hundred
and fifty-five days next preceding the
e ection, may be allowed to vote with.
out let or hindrance.
This class of citizens are favored
class of voters, who may vote at every
election without registering, or other
wise complying with the provisions of
this act. These are favored gentlemen
who escape the obligations and penal.
ties imposed by this law. Neither
sickness or other unavoidable casualty
happening to this class of voters on
the 2lst and 22i of September, au
disfranchise them, if they are only
able to attend the election in October
following.
But it is otherwise with all who
have not resided (bona fde) in the
county 3GO days or township, village
or ward 355 days next preceding the
election, Tor they must register on the
day fixed by the act or become dis
franchised. A
The first section, after reciting who
shall not be permitted to vote, pro-
vides, first:
"That no person shall be prohibited
from voting by reason of not having
been resident OF the proper county
or township. village or ward the time
above specified, IT such person shall
have been bona .fde resident Of the
county thirty days, and of tho town
shir, village or ward in which he re-
sides and offers TO vote twenty days
next preceding the election, and shall
have complied with the provisions,
q id registered as required by section
5 of this act"
Section 4 provides:
Registrars shall be in attendance,
at their respective places, for the reg
istratlon of voters, on the third Friday
next preceding every general election
in April, October and November, from
eight O'Clock, a. M, until nine o'clock
p. IN, for the purpose of registration,
and it necessary, to give all making
application opportunity to register
they shall continue in attendance
,hereat, between the hours aforesaid.
for two days, and shall personally su-
perintend all registrations"
Section 5 provides:
"Any person to be entitled to vote
under the first prOvisO of section l
shall appear before the registrars of
the proper election presinct wherein
he expects TO vote at tile tim
and place designated for the registra
ton of vOtcrs, and make and subscribe
q statement an a book to be provided
Tor that purpose, &C., and kept by the
registrars open at all times to public
and examination. which
shall contain
81. The name of the last preceding
place of residence of such person.
go. The voting precinct or ward in
which he expects 10 vote.
'33. The place of his residence there
in.
81. The date of his removal thereto.
80. His age.
"G. Whether married or unmarried.
~. Shall be subscribed by such per-
son; such statement shall be number
ed consecutively, beginning with num-
ber one of each year, ,and the registrars
shall make over their own signatures
and deliver to every person so regis
tered before them a corresponding
statement with like number and date,
which such person shall present TO the
judges of election when he offers to
vote.
" No person shaHregiste,' at any 9TH
ef time or place than as abore desig-
natsd.'
Section 6 provides:
"Thatif any person or persons shall
wilfully make or authorize to be made
any statement herein required, false in
any particular or shall violate any pro-
vision OF this act, every such person
r persons shall be deemed guilty Of q