The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-10-01


Editor Florididn: The act Of 1877. chapter
1921, upon the subject of registration and the
holding of elections, is endeavor by the Legis-
lature to provide the safeguards required by the
Constitution of the State TO prevent frauds in
elections These safeguards provisions as TO
1. Who are legally qualified voters:
According to Article XIV, Section /, of the
Constitution Of 1858, the qualifications of voters
are as follows: "All male persons
~ OF the age of 81 years and upwards,
(2) Who are citizens of the United States, or
who have declared their purpose to become such
in conformity to the laws of the United States
and
49, Who have had their residence, habitaton,
domcile, home and place of permanent abode in
Florida for one year and in the county (where
offer is made TO vote) for six months next pre-
ceding the election at which they shall offer to
vote"
2. Who are not qualified voters
By sections two Cs) and iour a. of the same
article XIV, the following persons are disquali-
fed-(see also Chapter 1926, Section g.:
/. Persons under guardianship.
IL Persons who are insane or idiotic.
III. Persons hereafter convicted of felony,
bribery, perjury, larceny or other infamous crime.
Nv. Persons convicted of fighting a duel, or
sending or accepting challenge, or of knowingly
being the bearer Of challenge to fight duel, or
of the acceptance Of such challenge
V. Persons convicted of making or beng in
teres,ed in any bet or wager upon any election.
8. Ecidsncs Of qualifications Of electors:
Tho GO.aksfsrf;Ora rfE lorsHo ;v, A
Section s, provides for and requires the enact.
ment by the Legislature for the registration by the
clerk OF the Circuit Court in each county of all the
legally qualified voters in such county; and also
that after the completion, from time TO time, of
such registration, no person not duly registered
according 10 lao dali b GLored to cote registra-
ton, therefore, according to Iaw is the only evil
dence Of q mans right 10 vote. Registration
must be by the clerk of the Circuit Court, and
such registration lists OF legally qualified voters
is matter of record in the clerks Office. Inspec-
tors and managers Of elections are bound. there
foFe to be governed by this list. and can receive
the vote Of no person whose name has Not been
duly registered according to iar j; parol ersdence
Of Ngiaration . ta0dmissiNe.
4 RssisioS Of Regissration Lasts:
The act of 1858 required the revision by the
County Commissioners Of each county Of the
lists Of registered electors OF their county. In
section Of said oct, said County Commissioners
were required to meet at the Clerks Office within
80 days preceding the day on which any cleo
ton shall be held, and examine said list, and to
erase iherefrom the names Of all such persons as
are known or may be shown TO their satisfaction
haw I'D Alx,
sAeir county, or who have otherwise become dis
quazAed TO vote. The reasonableness Of such
law b very evident for the registration lists are
intended by law a. evidences of q persons right
70 vote whose name appears thereon. II. there
Gore, il ceasrs TO speak the truth ON that point it
should At once be amended and made 10 speak the
trxsA.
But inasmuch n the County Commissioners
are liable 70 erase names from the lists improp-
Of such names upon the lists. In order that none
entitled sho0ld h defeated Of their right 10 vote
By section nine Of the oct OF 1885, il was pro7ded
that any person applying 10 vote should be per-
mitted to dO ~ upon his making oath that his
name had been "improperly" struck from the
lis AZ registered voters. and also take oath re-
quired nf persons challenged. BY substituting
for actual rgiskGtioa the oath Of one Offering TO
vote thai his name had been improperly struck
om the list u registered VOTERS the constitution
81 requirement OF registration was made Of no
effect
By the oct OF 1877, Chapter S021. this defect
In the law of 1893 was amended, and any person
whose name had been Improperly struck OF the
list was required 10 obtain from the Board Of
Couniy Commissioner, prior to election day, .
certificate setting fnsth that be bad made oath
bcfDre them that be ID legally qualified voter,
and having his name put back upon the list Il
least ten days be(ugs he day Of any election
This requirement q having all names Of legally
qaaliaed voters entered upon the registration
lists = leasl Ten days before any sIeciion b in
tsndsd = cAsck upoa sssh and misguided men,
WIN. upoa dsys ~ eIecssou, nndsr ihs excitement
md tenptAtions ~ - occaaion woald, Ii order
% yolss sweaF shai whieh dhey knew % Be ne
49, iIns - sslalsy srs sivsn y ths
~ % ~ Whoae naz1es hsve ben impsupeEly
slsaak e tbe -, . laslsa ,hssn.ylvss - -