The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-04-04
THE NEW ELECTION LAW
A CLEAR EXPLANATION RY SEN
ATOR TURNER.


A Measure Which is Justto All, Which
Disfranchises None and Which Pro-
tects the Purity of the Ballot.
THE SENTINEL published the pro-
| visions of the new election law three
weeks ago, bpt as the Republican pa
pers are endeavoring to mislead the
public about the matter, we copy from
the Statesville Landmark the follow
ing explanation from the pen Of
State Senator Turner:
Fair elections, that will voice the
honest will of the people, should be
desired by all right thinking citizens,
and in order to accomplish this end
the necessary safeguards should be
thrown around the ballot-box that
will secure government of the people,
by the people and for the people"
This is the object of the new election
law.
The first section OF the act makes it
the duty of the commissioners, on or
before the first Monday'in September
preceding each election, to select the
registrars. This is one month earlier
than the old law required their selec-
tion. The object of this change will
appear by reference to the next Sec
ton of the act which provides for the
closing if the registration book on the
second Saturday before each election.
This is wise, as it will give time before
election to detect any fraudulent reg
istration.
Section Sd of the act is an amend
ment to section 2674 of The Code,
which says "no electOr shall be en-.
titled to register or vote in any other
precinct or township than the one in
which he is an actual and bona fde
resident on the day of election" As
a test as to whether he is an actual ur
bona .tfde resident or not, and as a
source Of information in regard to the
voter, this act says that no registra-
ton shall be valid unless it specifies as
near as may be, the age, occupation,
place of birth and place of residence
rs we'll as the township or county from
which the elector has removed" &c
The words as ''near as may" are used
which mean not positively and with
certainty, but according to best infor-
nation.
Section 4th of the act makes it the
duty of the registrar and judges OF
elections to attend at the polling place
of their township with the registra
ton books on the second Saiurda,
preceding eie tian ii lieu of the frs
Saturday
Section 5tl, is an amendment to sec
ton 2678 of The Code, which make.
it the duty of the registrar, if any o
the judges of election fail to attend
to appoint some discreet person TO ac
as such, s of the same political party
as the absent Judge or judges. The
words in quotation are stricken out
The law before amended was impera
, tive, but as amended it requires th'
, appointment ofdiscreet persons, wheth
er of the some political party or not
The reason of the change was to pre-
, vent judges from refrainipg to attent
the polls for political purposes unit
late in the day in order to hinder o
, delay the election from progressiu,
and giving the electors an emporium
ity to vote. The section of The Cod
has been abused, by judges refusin,
to attend, knowing at the time ther
3 would be no one else there OF thei
, party to take their place or to secur
, the appointment of some IRE sponsibl
, person for political advantage, VIII
/ might be there for that purpose. Thi
, amendment will force the judges whe
appointed to be present and allow th
$ election to proceed without hindrane
: or delay.
Section 6 amends section 2681
The Code and makes it the duty {
the registrar to require the person @
feriDg to register upon the request
an elector to prove his identity, az
and residence by such testimony III
a der oath as may be satisfactory to Il
d registrar and "not by the testimony
y at least one elector under oath,"
proviued by lhe old law. The la
before amended seemed to make it Il
duty of the registrar to be satisf.
achether he aUas or aUas not satisfied,
a, one elector would swear to the ident
s. ty, age and residence of the party @
ii fering to vote. The new law provid
8. safeguards against fraudulent registr
l. tion, by requiring satisfactory proof
ID the identity, age and residence. Th
s. Is intended to prevent strange perso
is from places, we know not where, fro
coming into the State on the day b
fore election and registering npon Il
70 oath of some Irresponsible perso
- - There IS nothing in this section or Il
:" act that will prevent any one fro
registering and voting, because
does not know his age, place of birt
4 &c. 1t only requires that he shs
al state these things as near as he ca
IS which means to the best of his know
ce edge or Information. This provisi,
a of the law will be the means of givil
'e statistical and valuable information
IS regard to our people that is We
c. much needed throughout the Stat
a It will prevent to a large degr
re double registration in many
c our large cities and towns. Its obje
OF is to reach the floating population
~ The State and to check the influx
Is. large numbers of persons from 9th
States and places just before our ele
tions. 1t destroys no rights that bo
fde residents now enjoy.
of Section allows person to regist
tn who may become of age on or betc
r. the day of election and after the reg
tration books are closed and is oi
0. erwise qualified 10 vote as provided
our