The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-02
THOSE Who MAY VOTE,
Plain Answers to Questions Con-
corning the Qualifications
OF Electors.
What Entities a Foreign Born
Citizen to the Right Of
Suffrage.
No Person In Montana Can Vote In Mo-
vember Unless He Has
Registered.

So many questions are daily presented to
various parties as TO Whit are tile qualiica-
tions of voters for the election next month,
that below are briefly summarized the fol-
lowing statements of the law;
First. No person can vote unless he will
be twenty-one years or over upon Nov. y,
1882.
Second. No person can vote under any
circumstances unless he will have been .
bona hde resident Of Montana for ono year
Immediately preceding Nov. 8, 1892. and
unless he shall have been a bona hde resi-
dent of the county whore he offers to vote
for thirty days next preceding Nov. 3, 1892.
These qualifications aro general. They
apply to any and every person, no matter
who he Is or where he may offer to vote.
Persons who are not native born or fully
paturalized citizens of the United States
must also be governed by the following
rules:
First. II a man had lived in Montana six
months before tho constitution was
adopted, that 10 to say, six months before
Got. /, 1889, md had declared his intention
to become a citizen of the United States
any time before Oct. ]. 1889. such q person
was a qualified %elector at the time OF the
adoption of tho constitution Of the state,
and had a right to vote in October, 1889.
He may have voted, or he may not have
voted, but he had the right to vote. n
such a foreign born person can vote at the
general election to be held next month. II
he has resided in Montana since No
vember, 1891.
Tit test is, Did the right to vote exist
Oct. /, 1889, or the day the constitution wes
adopted? If it did. the voter need not now
become a full citizen of the United states.
But if a foreign born person had not de-
clared his intention to become a citizen OF
the United States prior to Oct. l, 1889. and
had not lived six months in Montana be-
fore that time, then he cannot vote unde
any circumstance at tho election to DO
held next month unless he becomes, ON or
before Dot. IL, 1892. a full naturallzed citi-
zen of the United States.
Now, a few words as to citizenship. Ii q
man declared his intention to become a
citizen of the United States ON or before
Oct. Is, 1890. and has lived in the United
States Ave years, the last year OF which
time he has lived in Montana, such person
ia entitled to become a full citizen of the
United States, provided he brings wit
nesses to prove to the satisfaction OF the
court the above facts and that no ID we'll
disposed to the American government. b
courts generally require TWO cro0lplo w1s-
nesses besides the applicant.
Foreign born persons who came TO the
United States before they were IL years
Did, and who have lived from the time they
Is up to ths time they are %, or over. were
within the United States can be admitted
to full citizenship upon proof of residence
and friendliness to the United States with
out any time elapsinR between first and
second papers.
Further, no person can vote, under any
circumstances for the location OF the cap
ital, or for presidential electors, or state or
county officers, unless he has been regular.
ly registered under the registration laws OF
the state.
Let evsry voter remember this, and what
follows:
Registration closes Oct. Is, 1892, at 10
O'Clock in the night, and unless the voters
are registered before that hour, no matter
whether they be qualified or not in all other
respects, there is no legal or possible right to
vote on election day.
There is no such thing as swearing IN"
q vote on election day. That Law applies
only to city elections held in April of each
year. II has NO application to the election
next month.
Finally, let every man study the qualif-
cations plainly set forth above. mmedi-
ately see to 1t that he ia properly natural
ICED and registered before Oct. Is. 1892. If
he desires to avail himself of his right to
vote for president of the United States" for
Helena for the capital; for state officers and
county officials, at the election to BIS held
on Nov. 8, 1892. Gut this out and put it In
your hat or pocket for reference.