The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-11

gained or lost residence by reason OF
his presence or absence while employ.
ed in the service of the United States,
nor while engaged in the navigation
of the waters of this State, or of the
United States, or of the high seas. nor
while student of any institution OF
learning.
Sec. s. The general assembly shall
provide by law for the registration OF
all qualified electors and shall pre-.
scribe the manner of holding elections
and of ascertaining the results of the
same; provided, at the first registra.
ton under this Constitution, and un
til the 1st of January, 1898, the regis
tration shall be conducted by board
of three discreet persons in each coun
ty, to be appointed by the governor,
by and with the advice and consent OF
the senate. For the first registration
to be provided for under this Constitu
ton, the registration books shall be
kept open for at least six consecutive
weeks, and thereafter from time to
time at least one week in each month,
up to 80 days next preceding the first
election to be held under this Consti
tuition. The registration books shall
be public records open to the inspec'
ton of any citizen at all times.
Sec. 9. The general assembly shall
provide for the establishment of poll
ing precincts in the several counties
of the State and those now existing
shall so continue until abolished OF
changed. Each elector shall be re.
quired to vote at his own precinct, but
provision shall be made for his trans.
fer to another precinct upon his
change of residence.
Sec. 10. The general assembly shall
provide by law for the regulation of
party primary elections and Furnishing
fraud at the same.
Sec. II. The registration books shall
close at least 80 days before an election
during which time transfers and reg.
istration shall not he legal; provided,
persons who will become of age dur.
ing that period shall be entitled to
registration before the books are
closed.
Sec. IL. Electors in municipal elec.
tions shall possess the qualifications
and be subject to the disqnalifcations
herein prescribed. The production of
a certificate of registration from the
registration officers of the county as
an elector at a precinct tincluded in the
incorporated city ortown in which the
voter desires to vote is declared'a con-
dition prerequisite to his obtaining a
certificate of registration for municipal
elections, and in addition he must
have been a resident within the corpo-
rate limits at least four months before
the election and have paid all taxes
due and collectible for the preceding
fiscal year. The general assembly
shall provide for the registration of all
voters before each election in munich
palities; provided, that nothing herein
contained shall apply to any munich
pal elections which may be held prior
to the general election of the year
1896.
Sec. 13. In authorizing a special
election in any incorporated city or
town in this State for the purpose of
bonding the same, the general assem-
bly, shall prescribe as a condition pre-
cedent to the holding of said election
a petition from a majority of the free
holders of said city or town as shown
by its tax books, and at such elections
all electors of sue city or town who
are duly qualified for voting under
section l2 of this article, and who have
paid all taxes, State, county and mu-
nicipal, for the previous year, shall be
allowed to vote, and the vote of ma
jority of those voting in said elections
shall be necessary to authorize the is
sue of said bonds.
Sec. II. Electors shall in all cases
except treason, felony or breach of the
peace, be privileged from arrest on the
days of election during their attend
ance at the polls and going and re-
turning therefrom.
Sec. Is. No power, civil or military,
shall at any time interfere to prevent
the free exercise Of the right of sutf-
rage in this State.
ARTICLE III.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
Section 1. The legislative power of
this State shall be vested in two dis
tinct branches, the one to be styled the
Senate, and the other the "House
Of Representatives, and both together
the General Assembly of the State of
South Carolina"
Sec. 9. The house of representatives
shall be composed of members chosen
by ballot every second yearly citizens
Of this State, qualified as in this Con-
stitution is provided.
Sec. 3. The house of representatives
shall consist of 124 members, to be
among the several coun-
ties according to the number of inhabl-
tants contained in each. Each county
shall constitute one election district.
An enumeration of the inhabitants
for this purpose shall be be made in
the year 1901, and shall be made In
the course of every 10th year thereafter
in such manner as shall be by law di-
rected: Provided, that the general
assembly may at any time, in its dis
cretion, adopt the Immediately preced.
ing United States census as a true and
correct enumeration of the inhabitants
of the several counties, and make the
of representatives
among the several counties according
to said enumeration: Provided, fur
ther, that until the apportionment
which shall be made upon the next
shall take effect, the rep
resentation of the several counties as
thew now exist (includinp the county