The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-21
FRAUDS In ELECTIONS.
A BILL TO PREVENT THEM IN TEN
NESSEE.
Provision for the Registration OF Voters
Under Certain Circumstances-T The
Enrolment OF Qualified Voters
Duties of Magistrates, Etc.

A bill to he entitled IAN Act to Prevent Frauds In
Elections and To Provide for the Registration
OF Voters under Certain Circumstanccs.'
Section l.. BE il enacted by the General
Assembly of the State Of Tennessee, That
in all cities and towns and voting precincts
having voting population OF more than
400 in addition to the qualifications now
required by law for voting, each and every
person desiring to vote shall enroll, or have
his npme enrolled M u qualified voter, as
hereinafter provided.
Sec 2. BE it further enacted. That for
the purpose of carrying out this act the
Judge, or Chairman OF the County Court
OF such county, wherein registration may
be necessary, shall procure a suitable book
for such purpose, TO be paid for by the
Trustee on his warrant, and this book shall
be kept by one OF the magistrates OF said
town, OF city, or district, or ward, in which
the voting place is located, and the same
shall be at oil times open to inspection by
the public, and open for enrolment OF
votes not less than sixty days before the
next general election thereafter.
Sec. 3. BE II further enacted, That in
this book all the qualified voters Of such
city, town, district or ward shall be nj.
lowed to have their names enrolled as
qualified voters; and this registration shall
be prima iacie evidence OF such person s
right 10 vote.
Sec. 4. BE IL further enacted, That this
enrolment, or registration. shall be COM
plctCd and finished aud open to inspection
five days before the general election for
State aud county officers, aud members Of
Congress and Presidential Electors, II such
are 10 Ice elected at such election; and no
one shall be allowed TO enroll between
that time and the day OF said election. ~
voters, except In eases where the voter has
become of age, or otherwise become quail
fled 10 vote in that time; and except, also,
in eases whore legal voter has been pre-
vented from enrolling his name by reason
OF sickness, necessary absence, or some
other good and sufficient cause; Provided,
that any person seeking Ia take advantage
OF the foregoing exceptions. shall file with
the enrolling officer An affidavit showing
the cause aud hen this IL done the name
OF said voter shall bo enrolled, but the
same shall bc done before voting.
Sec. .. BE- it further enacted That Ii any
person enroll, or have his name enrolled
~ qualified voter, when he IL not, or
vote illegally ut such election, lac shall los
guilty Of a misdomcanor, aud ON convic.
ton shall be fined not less than $50. and
any person procuring another, knowingly,
Ia Illegally register rs voter. or to illo-
gally vote after such enrolment. or regis
tmlion, shall Ice guilty OF misdcmcanor.
and ON conviction shall be fined as above,
aud tho several judges having criminal
jurisdiction shall GIVE this act in charge.
aud the Grand Jury shall have linguistic.
rial powers, aud bills shall be preferred
without "a prosecutor by the Attorney
General, who on conviction shall have "A
taxed Ice ~ SO, and nothing shall bc cx-
cmpt from execution for the line aud cost
IN these cases.
Sec. q. BE- IL further enacted. That tho
taking and filing false oath Ia get the
benefit " enrolment shall br deemed Der.
jury, and any person procuring or causing
another 90 take such false oath, knowing
Il 10 be- false, shall be- doomed guilty 81
subonatlon ui perjury, aud In both in
stances punished, u convicted, ~ such
Oilcnscs arr punished hy existing laws.
Sec. T. b. IL further enacted, That nil
registrations shall hr Cancelled, aud the
books opylri Tor nsw enrolment on tho
lsl dIy ui september preceding the clcc.
ton ol Presidential electors, nj which time
Maid books shall bo opened Tor the rrgis-
iratlOn -, voters ~ hrrrinboiorc provided
See \ w. u further enacted, That II
any lcaal voter become disqualified by rr-
moyal from tho district ~ county, or h,.-
come otherwise disqualified a. vote. this
bhull operate Ia cancel tho registration oi
their names, and Il shall be- the duty ol
thr enrolling officer Ia cancel all names on
the register who may have cpas,I tu o., a
legal voter, when Il comes 20 his kuuWl.
edge
Soc. o. 10 il further enacted That tho
County Courts ol the counties in which a
REGISTRATION or enrolment Oi voters b. ~.
luifvd shall designate the officers tb ~
oviNo aud Keep The enrolling books, aud
may pay sucn compensation Tor tho service
~ may be- reasonable. lui there shall be-
one iur each voting place In slid city. town
or district unl the same shall be- present
Tor the inspection u the judges holding
the election, and shall be- upvu lur inspyc.
ton iur all candidates ar their designated
friends aud the enrolment ol names shall
hv in alphabetical urlcE aud IL shall be-
the duty ui thr officer holding the register,
aud th' judges clerks anil other officers
holding uIi election, o. report any viola.
ton ui ilis act 10 the grand Jury, or On
some magistrate of the county Who has
Cnsu.unuO ui the sJmr and the failure t.
DO sl shall hr q mislcmcnupr.
See 49, ~ DO further enacted. That thc
officer nr Magistrate To whom the register
ur uuml'iug book Is delivered shall tan,
AMI subscribe the following OATH ~ do
s0.uWu.y swear Tor aliml ih8t ! will
faithfully aud implrIialy krcp the rvgis-
ter OF the votes boz my district. that will
not knowingly Register, or allow Ia boz reg.
isirrvi, any prr,1n not q legally qualified
voter uul that ! will not kupvinsly Pre-.
vent ans person from registering who Is a
legally qualified voter So help noe God. "
sec. n. Ec 10 further enacted. That the
destruction OF said WgIstpr cor enrolling
book, or the sDiEur or detention ui the
same. tu effect or change the result II any
election, ur the wrongful making out Or
officiating from said book Oh. ulmc ui
amy lyll voter. or the insertion of amy
n1wD IH legal voter without authority.
shall bc q mlsipWnnoE aud, uu rDuNiv.
linnt lho guilty party shall De- iugl s pro.
yilyl 10y Nyy,.au of this oct, aul thp
roufH aud Grand jury ol thr State arc
charged with tur same duties and powers
al ID concerned hy that section Zoo dndiug
bills