The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1895-02-09
WHO ARE ELKCY0RS
Lengthy Opinion by AttorneyGen-
eraI Maynard.
FOREIGNERS CANNOT VOTE
Unless They Have Resided in the
Country Five Years.

In response 70 query sent him by
County Clerk Cad Smith, OF Marquette,
county, relative TO The qualifications OF
voters, Attorney Geaeral Maynard says
Previous TO tho last general election,
by section l article Z. OF the constitution
Of this state, in all elections, every male
inhabtant who had resided in this state
two years and six months, and who had
declared his intention TO become citi-
zen OF The United States pursuant to the
laws thereof, six months preceding an
election, was an elector and entitled TO
vote; Provided, OF course. he was above
the age OF twenty one years. aud had
resided in TIE township or ward In
which he offered TO vote ten days pre-
credlng such election. This section was
amended at the last general election. so
that 1t now reads as follows: Every
male inhabitant Of foreign birth who
having resided in this state two years
aud six months prior TO the Sth day of
November, 1894, and having declared
his intention TO become "a citiz4n of the
United States two years aud six months
prior TO said last uamt d day, shall be an
elector and emitted TO vote" The sec
ton was also amended by requiring taat
10 one shall be an clector or entitled to
vote at any election, unless he shal! have
resided In this state six months, and in
the township or ward in which he offers
to vote twenty days next preceding
such election. In all other respects, sec
tion | Of article I remains unchanged,
An examination Of this section OF the
constitution, as amended, shows that
there is not the slightest possible ground
for doubt as to who are now electors and
entitled to vote in this state. There is
no room for construction, because the
Language is so plain and clear as to ad-
init OF no construction. This section as
amended expressly, in terms, provides
who shall be electors. 1t follows that
those who do net come within one OF the
provisions of this section. are not quail
fed electors and cannot vote.
There IL but one question that has
beer presented in The many letters which
l Save received on this subject. and that
is as to how this sec,iun Of the constitu-
tion, as amended, affects male inhabitants
OF foreign birth in this state The qucs-
tion is asked, must foreigner become
a full citizen before lie can vote in this
state" and second, II so, does this
affect male inhabitants OF foreign birth.
who, before th is section was amended
|. may have been electors?'' In other words.
amended, DISTINGUISHED? My answer To
this question is this: Ne male inhabtantof
fsrelgn birth now residing in this state,
| can vote at any election held In this
| United States; and male inhabitant of
foreign birth, who may have been quail
| led eleetor last November, cannot vote
next spring, unless he shall be, by that
time,a ci'izen Of the Uuited States: Pre-
vlded, OF course, that he does hot come
within the express constitutional excep-
tioD, viz: A residence OF two years and
six months prior to the Sih
day Of November, 1894. and his
having made declaration of his
Intention to become citizen
Of the United States, two years and six
months prior to said last named date. In
such case, OF course, such an inhabi-
tant Of foreign birth can continue to
vote.
Before this amendment, ali that was
required OF foreigner. who came TO this
sta,e, was residence therein Of two
years and half, and declaration OF his
Intention TO become citizen of the
United States six mon ;hs preceding an
electiOn: So that, for example, any for
eigner who had come to this state to live,
two years and six months preceding the
last general election, IN November. and
had declared his Intention OF becoming a
citizen six months preceding said election,
became thereby qualified elector; but
now, by reason Of the amendment, all
this is changed and such q person is no
longer an elector--be can no longer vote,
nor can any other foreigner vote in this
state, who had not declared his inten-
tion to become citizen OF the United
States, two years and six mouths pre-
csdiug the sth day Of November, 1894.
1t by no means follows that he is per-
manently DISTINGUISHES; hs simply must
walt until he becomes citizen OF tho
United States, and then he eau again
vote.
Az 10 well known, a foreigner can be-
come full American cItiz,n. other con-
ditions being con. piled with. b, actually