The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-01-31
rms FRlSoHISE.

10y K Il. thompson, in Brookhaveu Leader. /
The new regulation governing the
elective franchise and Fl rggistration are
worthy Of special consideration at this
time.
Section 24l of the new Constitution
provides that @every male inhabitant
OF this State, except idiots, insane per-
sons and Indians not taxed. who is a
citizen Of the United States. 2l wears
Old and upwards, who has resided In
the State two years. and one wear in
tue election district or m the ineorpo-
rated city or town in which he offers
to vote, and who is duly registered as
provided in this article, and who has
never been convicted of bribery. bur-
glary, theft, arson, obtaining money or
goods under false pretenses, perjury.
forgery, embezzlement or bigamy, aud
who has paid on or before the first day
OF February of the year in which he
shall offer to vote, all taxes which may
have been legally required Of him, and
which be has had an opportunity of
paying according to law for the two
preceding years, and who shall produce
to the officers holding the election sat
isfactory evidence that he has paid
said taxes. is declared to be a qualified
elector'
Section 249 provides that "uo one
shall be allowed to vote for members
of the Legislature or other officers of
this State who has not been duly reg
istered under the Constitution and
laws OF this State, by an officer of this
State legally authorized 10 register
the voters thereof; and registration
under the Constitution and laws Of
this State, is hereby declared to be an
essential and necessary qualification to
vote ut any aud all elections
Section 25l provides that "electors
shall not be registered within four
months next before any election at
which they may offer to vote; but ap-
peals may be heard and revision take
place at any time prior to the election,
aud no person who IN respect to age
and residence would become entitled
TO vote within the next four months,
shall be excluded from registration on
account Of his want of said qualitica-
tions at the time Of registration"
Section of the ordinance extending
the terms of State officers provides
that IA general election shall be held
under this Constitution on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in
November, 1891, for three railroad
commissioners, and for members Of
the Legislature, district attorneys, and
county aud district officers, whose
terms shall expire on the first Monday
in January, 1896.
Section 4 of said ordinance provides
that "there shall be registration Of
the electors qualified under such pro-
visions of this Constitution, which are
operative prior to the election in 1891,
aud such registration shall be made by
the proper officers, and in the manner
now prescribed by law, when the same
| Is not inconsistent with the provisions
of the Constitution operative as aiore-
said and when repugnant then accord
ing to the provisions thereof The
Board of Supervisors of the several
counties shall provide proper registra-
ton books with the oath required by
Section 242 of this Constitution"
Under the schedule to the new Con
stitution all ordinances went iuto effect
at the time of adoption of the Constl-
tuition, aud the article on franchise on
January /, 1891, which includes all OF
the above quoted provisions, aud all
laws repugnant thereto were repealed.
From this we learn (D that there is
TO be a general election this year; (2)
what are the qualifications for electors
(3) that new registration is required ;
| f4l that all voters must be registered
at least four months before the election
at which they offer to vote; (5) that
tho same registration aud election
officers must serve as now provided by
law, except in so far as existing laws
are "repugnant" to the new Consiltu-
tion aud ordinances; (6) that Ii Is made
the duty of Boards of Supervisors to
provide new registration books in each
county containing the prescribed oath
The oath prescribed is found in Sec
tiou 242 and reads thus: 81, -
do solemnly swear Tor affirm that
am twenty.oue years old (or will be
before the next election in this county
and that | will have resided in this
State two years and in - election
district of - county Que year mex
preceding the ensuing election" Tor |
n minister of the gospel in charge OF al
organized church, two years residence
in the State and six months IN sal,
election districD sand am now IN goo.
faith n resident in the same, and that
am not disqualified from voting by
reason of having been convicted OF any
crime named in the Constitution o
this State as n qualification to be al
eleetor. that | will truly answer al
questions propoundod to me concern
inc nv antecedents so far as they re
late to my right TO vote, and also as t'
NV residence before my citizenship il
this district; that | will faithfully sup
nnrt the Constitution of the Iplte'
States and the State of Mississippi
and will bear true faith aud allegiance
,o The same. SO help me God" II
registering voters in cities and towns
uoI wholly in one election district, TN
name of such city or town may be SUP
s,itutc1 in the oath for the election
district. Any willful aud corrupt ials
staieneui in said affidavit, or IN answe
10 anv material questions propounade'
ss herein authorized, shall be perjury
Turning now to chapter four ol tn' m
oodo of SsO. we find that the ofllcef
authorized to register voters are !n' m
, circuit clerks of the several counSles
Who arc hereby constituted ex-oiilcl'
mnt roaistrars. Chapter 23 of the acts 0
isss. pages so and 81 amend the pro
r1J ,,;sions of the code, aud section . Q
said chapter, after empowering ID
hoard la of supervisors TO designate lh'
poa .a,,;, clerk to make new regislra
ill.,. ,;au Of voters. when necessary, goe
on ~ 10 provide that said clerk, e. ~sIa "a
on vnbi;sb for a period of thirty days be