Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-08
MEN THATMAY VOTE
City Attorney Taylor Submits
a list of
ELECTORAL QUALIFICATIONS
For ths Benefit of Persons IN Doubt IS
to Their C.uzsnshIp-Synop-
ais Of the Law.

a1d submitted the following statement
relative 10 the qualifications OF voters
IN the election 10 take place today;
EDrfoh HERALD-My attention nav
ing frequently, sitnIn the past lie"
days, been called To the question - TO
who are electors and qualified 10 vots
At the general election ~ be held Tues
day. November 5, II IS, perhaps, not IN
appropriate that should state what
are the qualifications OF electors IN
Michigan. Article OF Section 1 OF
the constitution Of the state OF Mlcai-
gan provided, as to the quallfleatlons
OF electors IA times or peace - tol-
lows.
Article :, section !. ain all the cleo
tons. every male citizen, every Eale IN
AAbilans residing IN SDe state on the
2ish day OF June, lc5o,. every male IN
habitant residing III the state on the LIST
day OF January. 1850, who has de-
clared hls Intention TO become u citizen
Il the United states, pursuant 10 the
laws thereof, six months proceeding an
election, or who has resided IN the stale
two years and slx IL ontns aud declared
his intention as aforesaid. and every
civilized nlalc inAablLanI OF Indian
de=cent, a naive OF the United States,
and not - member of any tribe, shall
be an elecJor or entitled g. vote at any
election, unless ne snail Do above the
age OF twenty-one years. ami has re-
sided "a THIS sgate three mOntns and IN
the township or ward IN which he
offers 10 vote, ten days next preceding
sucn election"
The remainder Of the section refers
10 times or war, instruction or rebel
lion, IA reference 10 electors IN actual
military service, and need not now Do
noticed.
The section Ansly xed.
First. 1. will thus be seen that every
male Innahllant who Was residing IN
toe state June "a, 1885, is entitled 10
vote. such Cases. OF course, are rare.
second. Every male citizen and every
male ianab.tant who Was residing IN
the state January /, 1850, who had
taken out MS nrst papers six months
before election tot these there can be
very few Is entitled To vote.
InIrd. And this Is the important
question. Every male inna5itant who
has resided IN the state two years aud
SIX months previous TO November s,
1892, aud wao has declared his Inteu-
ton IL become q citizen at least SIX
months prior TO the election, and who
Is 81 years OF age, Is entitled TAI vote,
provided No has resided in the ward
ten days previous To the election. Ii IS
not sufficient that ne has resided in the
United States two years and SIX months
previous To the election and has taken
out ms first papers SIX months previous
To the election, but ne must have re-
sided in Michigan at least two years
and . hall previous TO the election aud
have had his tirst papers for at least
six months.
Any person who has complied with
these last conditions has tie same
stand ing rs . native born citizen In re-
gard to voting 1T the election, but, just
as the native born citizen, he might
lose ms right to vote IN Michigan by
not having had his residence in Michi-
gan for the three months next proceed
ing the election; because, whether q
native born citizen, or = natural:zed
citizen with full papers, or q citizen
voting on his first papers, under the
conditions above stated, in any event,
he must be . male inhabitant of the
state, 81 years of age, ana have had his
residence IN this state three months
before the election, and in the ward
ten days before the election.
IL is unnecessary to speak of quail
fcatlous of civilized Indians, etc.
In Regard to Absence.
Another matter it is, perhaps, we'll
to call attention to: A citizen, having
ali the qualifications of an elector, may
have been absent from the state for
. period of three months and upwards
prior TO the election, and yet not lose
his residence IN the state, because the
question of residence Is one of inten-
ton, and being absent on business tenn
porsrIly, even for q period of several
months, or for D easure or for the re-
gaining of health, or what not, does
not deprive the voter of his residence
IN Michigan; the question is governed
by his honest intent IS to residence.
There ought not to be any difficulty
for the election officers TO properly de-
termIne the qualifications of electors
who may apply to vote. The great
danger IL in regard TO the voters who
vote on their "hrst papers (so-calledl,
and IL should distinctly be Understood.
that ss 10 AL foreign born persons. two
years and half residence in Michigan
u required and also possession of such
first papers ax months before the cleo
ton
An idea prevails with some that
father BY taking out his first papers
thereby makes citizens of all MS minor
children. This is incorrect; but for
eign born father, who has taken out
his full papers, thereby does make cit
izeus of all his minor children. minors
At the time of taking out his full
psrera Any foreign born person COM
ing 10 this country under Is years of
age, and who has lived IN this country
five years, can take out bis first and
second papers at the same time and
Immediately become full citizen.
WILLIAM WTsSxR TAYLoR,
City Attorney.