The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-18
SATURDAY. JANUARY IS, 1890.
CHANGES IN THE ELECTION LAW.

CHANGES IN THE ELECTION LAW
THE TINES has on several occasions
expressed the opinion that the Austria
Ian ballot law, which is being adopted
very generally in the Northern Statef'
AZ preventive Of bribery and intimi
dation. was not adapted to the peculiar
political conditions prevailing IN TIE
southern Commonwealth, in which
there WAS fourd a very large proportion
of negro voters. Among these Com
monwealths Virginia is to be numbered
We cannot afford here to run the SER
GUS risk attending any radical altera-
ton in the present election law, but
there are several changes which the
Iegis allure might make IN this law be
fore they adjourn, which would perfect
il ~ far az possible under existing cir
cumsianccs. We have already briefly
referred 10 these proposed changes, but
il will be well to call the attention Of
the General Assembly to them again
In he first place, there should be
provision in the law that every voter
should have actually lived at least three
months in the district in which he
claims the right to cast his vote, before
the election comes of, This would cur
tail the white vote, but only TO small
extent. while il would have a most i'm
portant, and, it may be added, most
desirable effect in reducing the negro
vote, majority Of the black voters Of
every rural district. at least, at present.
being in the habit Of scattering in every
direction until an election takes place
when they invariably return TO their
old domiciles as much for the holiday
as TO exercise their right Of suffrage.
In the second place, as q correlative
of the first, the registration lists should
receive no additions three months prior
to an election, unless in the instance Of
persons who have come Of age IN the
interval This would prevent tho oc'
currence OF the evil which would other
wise arise from the inclination Of the
negro voters 90 swear that, though they
have not been living in the district dur
ing the prescribed time, they have been
inha bitsnis Of the county.
These are the two most important
changes that might be made, but there
are others which might be suggested
which should receive careful consider
alton, such. for instance, as allowing
10 voting on transfers, aud requiring
every man to vote on a certificate from
the register that he is registered, and
Withholding from the register the
power TO issue more than one such Ger
tilicate, as airording indirectly both
an educational and a property qualiii-
cation. there has been advanced the
proposition to require, first, that all
voters before they are allowed to regiW
ter shall show By a certificate
which they must offer for IN
spection, that they are listed foI
iarGtion; AMI, secondly, that they
must, without exception, sign each a
certificate that they are not registered
elsewhere. We question whether II
would be advisable to engraft these
suggestions on the election law, but
they are nevertheless worthy Of atten-
ton. as bearing upon matter OF the
utmost importance to every citizen IN
the Commonwealth, namely, the con
slant jeopardizing Of every public and
privats interest by the exercise Of tho
suffrage on the part Of yensl, illiIerste
and pauper voters Of a different race.
another color, and alien sentiments and
Instincts.