The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-23
STATES IN WHICH
ALIENS VOTE.
Those That Extend the Fran.
chise to NOn.Citizens.
The Laws in Regard to Suffrage-How an
Immigrant May Become Voter
Within Five Months.
Written for THE MORNING CALL.

A coterie OF Federal officials at the
Custom-house, the other day, were dis
cussing matters political, when the con-
versatiOn drfted to tho naturalization
avs and qualifications OF voters, and
during the conversation one gentleman
made the apparently bold statement that
any alien could vote in this country after
five months residence. Naturally, he was
laughed at and his statements pronounced
ridiculous and in direct opposition to the
Constitution of the United States.
A CALL reporter, who had been an atten-
tive listener, took up the cue thus gained,
and in his rounds in the various city and
county offices and to public men repeated
the assertions, and, of course. was pro-
nounced an ignoramus upon such an impor-
tant matter.
THE CALL, in its query column, has from
time to time given exact and correct infor-
nation touching the subjects referred to
above. and now gives, in condensed form,
the laws of the forty-two States of this
Union touching the legal requirements of
| electors. from which it will be seen, aston
ishing as it may seem, that an alien is emit
tied to suffrage and can legally vote at
general election after a residence of less
than five months in the United States.
1t must be borne in mind that the United
States Constitution and laws in no way
affect the rights of States to make laws for
the regulation of their electors, except in
cases of persons in the service of the gen.
eral Government, but the Constitution does
require that any one foreign born, to be-
| come a citizen of the United States, must
have been resident thereof for period of
five years.
In sixteen of the forty-two States any
alien can vote after residence of from four
months to two wears. reSDectIVelV Will
be shown hereafter.
ONLY FIVE MONTHS RESIDENCE.
The five months residence qualification
being so remarkable TO many who have
never given the subject close attention, it
will be first explained as follows; In Min
nesota the right to vote at general elections
is extended to any citizen of the United
States, or alien who has declared his nten-
ton, and civilized Indians who have had
| previous residence of four months preced-
ing election. From this it will be seen that
any alien who may land in New York i've
months previous to an election, and pro-
ceeds at once to Minnesota, and immedi-
ately declares his intention to become a cti-
zen, will be an eligible electOr under the
laws of that State. Persons convicted OF
treason OF felony, unless pardoned, and
persons under guardianship OF insane are
excluded.
Alabama and Arkansas extends the fran
chse to any citizen Of the United States or
alien who has declared his intention and
been resident of the State one year. In
tn is instance the immigrant would have to
proceed as in the case of Minnesota, and he
could become voter in one year and one
month. Idiots, lunaticS and persons con-
victed of crime, unless pardoned, are ex-
cluded.
In Colorado any citizen of the United
States or alien who has declared his inten-
ton four months previous TO Offering to
vote. and who has resided in the State six
months, can exercise the right, provided he
be not convicted of felony. In this case
the immigrant can gain the coveted prize in
six months.
Florida grants the franchise to the citi-
Ecu or alien who has declared his intention
and resided in the State one year-another
case where the ballot can be obtained in
thirteen months. Insane persons, duellists,
criminals and persons under guardianship
are excluded.
Indiana and Kansas-The former will ex-
tend the great boon TO citizen or alien
who has declared his intention and been
in the State six months, and one year in
the United States, and excludes convicted
criminals, while Kansas permits the alien
who has declared his intention. to vote
| in six months, and excludes idiots, insane,
eonvicts and rebels.
LOUISIANA AND MICHIGAN.
Louisiana requires one years residence
from a citizen or alien who has declared
his intention, and excludes idiots, insane
and convicted criminals, while Michigan
grants the franchise 10 any citizen who has
been three months in the State, or inhabit-
ant who has declared his intention under
the United States laws six months before
an election and has resided in the State two
years aud six months.
Missouri and Nebraska-In Missouri to
be able to vote one must be a citizen OF
alien who has declared his intention not
less than one year or more than i've before
Offering to vote, and soldiers and marines,
pauperS and criminals are excluded; and
in Nebraska citizen OF alien who has de-
cared his intention thirty days prior to an
election and resided in the the State six
months can vote, idiots, insane and con-
victS being excluded.
North Dakota and Oreg0n-In these two
States any citizen, or alien who has de-
cared his intention, can vote after resi-
dence of one year in the State, idiots, in
sane and convicts being excluded.
South Dakota and Texas-These two
States extend the franchise to the citizen, or
alien who has declared his intention, after
residence of one year, and excludes idiots,
insane, paupers and cOnvicts.
Wisconsin laws are the same as the fore
going.
The remaining twenty-six States extend
the right of franchise to any citizen of the
UniteI States, imposing a residence in the
State varying from six months to two years,
and generally exclude paupers, idiots, in
sane people and convicts. and restrict the
right to male citizens OF q years of age and
over.
1t is not intended in this article to give
all the laws regarding the right Of suffrage,
but just such portions thereof as will dispel
the generally accepted but erroneous belief
that an alien must become naturaliZed
citizen before he can vote