Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1882-09-21
STATE OF MICHIGAN,
Attorney Generals Office,

istered:
STATE OF MICHIGAN,
Attorney Generals Office,
LANSING, Sept. Z, 1882.
His ErceHeHcy, Goo. Duoid II. Jerome.
DEAR SIR: Yours received with
letter of lion. j. X. Boies, relative TO
the construction of the law OF 1881,
Act 142, requiring II new registration
OF All the electors of the State prior
TO the next general election, and every
ten years thereafter ,tnd requesting
my opinion rs to the proper construc-
ton of the time within which such
registration should take place, many
constituting The law to require such reg
istration 10 take place at the meeting
of Tie board of registration and at no
other time, which would in many Of
the larger townships be an impossible
ity. | therefore beg TO give you the
Following as my construction Of the
law:
See. 176. C. l.. 1871, as amended in
Act l42, laws OF 1851, provides that at
the sessions of the several boards OF
registration, next preceding the gener-
at election TO be held III this State in
the year 1882, and ut said sessions next
preceding the general election every
zen years thereafter, there shall be had
and Iuade an entirely new registration
of the qualified electors Of each organ
lied township and city in this State,
excepting the county OF Wayne, &r.
THIS would seem TO contemplate the
making of this new registration mt the
sessions OF the boards, at the time fixed
10y law for their meetings, and if the
above provision stood alone doubts
might arise rs 10 the proper time for
handing in names for registration; !;
but by reading further on in this act Of
1881, the question will be- found fully
settled, for, after setting forth as above.
that new registration shall be had
every ten yealS at the sessions of the
boards, and excepting in Waynecoun-
ty and in certain cities. il saws: the
same (tllat is, the registration of every
| ten years. to be made in the manner
Eerenbefore specified for registration
of qualified electors in townships after
| the Var 1859.
The registration 10 be made this fall,
| and that OF every ten years thereafter,
Is therefore 10 be made as provided for
| registrations since 1889, which may be
| found in See. 100. &. l.. 1871, wherein
| 1t provides that after the year 1883
it shall be the right of amy such quail
lied elector residing IN The township.
and entitled to vote at The next elec-
| ten therein, and whose nulne has not
been registered, on any day, except
Sunda., the days OF the session OF tie
board OF registration, and the days IN
torvening between them and the next
| approaching election. TO apply to tie
township clerk, in person, for The reg
| Stratlon of his name, and it, upon
such examination a. is required by the
next section of this act tS,cc. Ia. C.
l.. 1S71, the clerk shall be satisfied
that such applicant is a resident of the
township, and otherwise qualified anC
entitled TO vote in such township n
the next election 10 be held therein
the name of such applicant shall b,
written either by himself or by th,
clerk upon "a separate paper. 10 be KEEP
by the clerk, his residence described
and the date Of the entry noted, " &c
(which paper shall be laid before tn,
board Of registration of each TOWNSHIP
At iH iltAl injecting. IOl examination
and review, and the names OF such per
sons appearing thereon as the boar,
shall be of opinion are qualified elec
tors Mt the then next election, and en-
titled TO vote thereat, may, 10y som
member of the board, aud under thei
direction, be entered i'm the proper reg
lister in the manner above set forth,
&c
1t will thus be seen that electors nee
not wait for the meetings of the regis
tration boards, but may, as above sta
ted. call in person upon the TOWNSHIP
clerk, leave their names with him. an,
thus secure their registrations
] am, therefore, Of the opinion tha
the registration Of names as abov
provided, and as registered since 1859
| will be valid, aud in accordance wit
the existing registration laws, as amend
ed in 1851. Yours truly,
J. j. VAN RIPPER.
Attorney General