The Press., 1893-09-07
w. C. T. U. DEPARTMENT.
School Suffrage for Women.

School Suffrage for Women. THE FULL AND CORRECT TEXT OF THE
 NEW LAw-DETAILs OF INFORMATION
 SOME DIFFICULTIES.
 From the ''Publc Acts of the State of Connecticut, passed January session, 1893," as just issued in pamphlet form, the following is correct and full text of the new law:
 Substitute for House Bitl Mo- 2O5)
 CHAPTER CCLXVI,
 An Act concerning the Right of Women to Vote
 for School Officers
 Re tt Enacted by the Senate aud House or Repre- se11tdttoes in General ssen1bIy ConUe1aed.
 SECTION 1. Every woman who shall have attained the age of twenty one years, who shall be citizen of this state, or of the United States, and who shall have re- sided in the state one year, and in the town for six months, and can read the English language, shall have the right to vote at any meeting held for the purpose of choosing any officer of schools or for any educational purpose under the gen. eral or special laws of this state.
 SEC. 3. Any woman who is entitled to vote under the first section of this act may be registered by the town clerk as a qualified voter in town or school district meetings, by making application to him for that purpose. It shall be the duty of the town clerk in each town to keep 8 registry list of the women entitled to vote in town or school district meetings under the provisions of this act, and to register the names of any women who may apply for registration for that purpose; pro- vided that after being examined by him under oath they shall satisfy him that they have the qualifications required by this act.
 SEC. 3. Any woman who, after taking such oath before the town clerk, shall testify falsely concerning her qualified tions, or shall knowingly vote illegally at any school, town, or district meeting, shall be guilty of misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punish ed by fine of fifty dollars, or imprisoned thirty days.
 SEC. 4. Whenever, in any school dis trict, registry lists shall be used by those voting in school district meetings, it shall be the duty of the registrars of voters of the town in which such districts are situ- ated, +o prepare separate lists of the names of those women residing in such school districts, or the voting districts of any such school districts, that have been
 
 provisions of this act.
 SEC. 5. At all elections to which the provisions of Chapter CCXLVII of the public acts of 1889 apply, there shall be | provided separate ballot-box distinctly marked "For Women's Ballots" and all | ballots of persons permitted to vote un- der the provisions of this act shall be de- posited in the box so labelled. | Approved July 1, 1893
 It appears from this that women quail fly for suffrage somewhat differently fl om men. The women are registered, exam ined, and found qualified by the town clerk alone The men file their names with the registrars, and at stated times are examined and sworn by joint board of the town clerks and selectmen. The men must also take the electors oath, but nothing of the kind seems to be re- quired of the women. That would seem to be serious omission,. for women should be under no less obligation to the state than men. The electors oath for men is as follows:
 You solemnly swear that you will be true and faithful to the state of Connec- ticut, and the constitution and govern ment thereof, as free and independent state, and to the constitution of the United States; and whenever you shall be called upon to give your vote or suff- rage touching any matter that concerns this state or the United States, you will give it as you shall judge will conduce to the best good of the same, without re- spect of persons or favor of any man; SC help you God.
 Under the new law, which took effect July 30, 1893, any woman who possesses the qualifications, that is, who is 21 years old, is citizen of this state or of the United States, has resided in Connecticut one year and in the town six months next prior to the election at which she wishes to vote, may register her name with the town clerk, and if he finds her qualified he will put her on the women's list, ant she may thereafter vote at any election for school officers or measures. For ex ample, she may vote at the coming Oc tober town elections for school visitors (and also for the high school committee which by the last legislature was mad' elective by town meeting ballot instead of appointive; and 8 separate box is tt be provided for women's ballots; see Sec 5 of the new law); but it does not appea that the secret envelope system applie to women's ballots, or that the state vii furnish them official ballots. The detail of the form of ballot must evidently b. determined by the local authorities, an' this is matter to which immediate at tention should be given, in order tha there may be no misunderstanding.
 Women may also have vote (registr lists being used on demand) in regular o special school district meetings, eithe by ballot or viva voce. The regular ar nual distri ct meetings come in June.
 It should also be remembered that LII der the law of 1887 women in Connecticu are now eligible to be members of tn board of school visitors, of high schoe committees, and of district committees. It would also seem that women are CT ,, ~