The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-01


Unique Manner In Which Primaries
Are Conducted in Botetourt County-A
Heavy Vote Expected This Spring.
OF elections, has received from the Sec
rotary OF the commonwealth new set
OF registration books for the city. There
are ten books in all, two for each ward,
making five complete sets. One OF the
books is used for registering white and
the other colored voters.
The books will not be given out to the
registrars until about the middle of this
month, unless the bill which Mr..
Thomas introduced in the legislature
providing for new registration passes
both houses and becomes law. This
bill provides for holding q special regis-
tration upon the passage of the act. IL
this is done tho books will be given out
Immediately thereafter.
The registrars Of tho different wards
are as follows:
First ward, .. n. Derr; Second, C e
Watson: Third, j. L. Kelly; Fourth;
Tinsley Kindred; Fifth, L. L. Barksdale.
The law requires That the books shall
be opcred at some convenient place, in
each election district, sixty days before
the next regular municipal or State
election and be opened again ten DAYS
before tho said election
The idea of introducing the bill into
tho house OF delegates was to provide
an accurate list Of all tho voters in
their various wards in order that, if
necessary, primary election might be
held.
Mr.. llanes, Of the electoral board, said
yesterday that he was under tho impress
sion that bill providing for new reg
lstration was necessary, else there could
he no election. But this matter was
clearly SOL forth in The TIMES o few
days ago in an article giving the law on
the subject.
The law provides that the electoral
board shall have power to call for n new
registration according to tho time speci-
fled, and in the manner set forth in the
act, whenever, in tho opinion of the
board, it bf comes necessary. Whenever
the books are destroyed, or the districts
changed by an act of tho legislature, so
that il is Impossible to secure a correct
list Of tho voters, then the board has
power to act.
AS stated above, it depends altogether
on the passage of the bill mentloned,
whether or not there will be an immc-
date registration.
Tho manner Of registering voter is
very exact There is q printed blank,
on which is printed an oath, together
with number of questions, to which,
if answered and sworn to as correct,
the signature of tho voter is attached
N 10 A.
books.
The question OF holding q primary is
connected so closely with tho registra.
ton that tho leaders OF the movement
are very anxious to have the books
opened as early rs possible. 1t is
stated that primary can he held with
out IL new registration, as IL is entirely
with tho party who proposes it. but it is
necessary to have some recorded list TO
prevent fraud.
In Botctourt county a unique and most
acceptable way Of holding a primary was
adopted several years ago. Since that
time it has given general satisfaction.
In each magisterial district ballot col
lector is appointed by the Democratic
executive committee, who rides from
house to house through his district and
collects the Democratic voters. In this
way it rarely happens that vote is
missed, and nearly every man who is
approached by the collector casts his
vote.
a TIMES reporter had talk with sew
eral OF the registrars yesterday, and it
IS the general opinion that heavy vote
will be put on the books when they arc
opened.
Owing to the inability Of the commit
tee to secure a suitable place for hold
ing the First ward meeting, Chairman
Huff did not issue his call yesterday for
the mass. meetings to BIO held Saturday
night The meetings will be hold on
that night, however, and tho call will
probably be issued to-day.