The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-03-24
THE NEW REGISTRATION LAW.
Tho Conditions Necessary to Become Voter
In this State.

Tho Conditions Necessary to Become Voter
In this State.
The new registration law is quite
lengthy and very stringent in its pro-
visions; but comprehensive idea Of
1t can be gathered from the following {:
Until January /, 1898, registration
shall be In the hands of three super
vlsors In each county, and after jan
uary ] 1893, the work will be in charge
oflone supervisor in each county,
Until January 1, 1898, all male citi-
zens who have been residents of the
State for two years and their respec-
tive polling precincts for four months,
and have paid their poll tax at least
six months previous to an election, and
who are not laboring under any of the
disabilities mentioned in the constitu-
tion, and who can read or understand
the constitution, are entitled to regis
ter and become electors. After Jan
uary l, 1898, the other conditions must
be complied with as described, and the
candidate for registration must have
also paid all taxes that may have been
assessed against him during the pre-
vious year, must be able to read and
write any section of the constitution,
or muet show tax receipts on property
to the value of $500. Ministers and
teachers, where otherwise qualified,
will be entitled to register after six
months residence in the State.
The registration books must be OPEN
ed at the court house on the first Mon
day in April next, and kept open for
six consecutive weeks. They must be
opened again on the first Mondays in
June, July, August and September and
kept opon one week in each month
They will be closed 80 days before the
general election !; but individuals who
become of age during that interval and
are otherwise qualified, may be re-
gistered before books are closed
The board of registration is to be
the Judge as to an applicants qualifica-
tion for voting. If the applicant is not
satisfied with the ruling of the board,
he can take his case to circuit Judge
or the circuit court and from there to
the supreme court. All persons reg
istered on or before January l, 1898,
will be qualified voters for life unless
they should be subsequently, disqualifi-
ed on account of other provisions Of
the constitution.
Provision is made for the renewal of
lost or destroyed certificates and for
the transfer OF registration from one
county to another. It is the duty OF
the clerks Of the court to keep regis
tration boards advised of all convic-
tions for disqualifying crimes, and it is
the duty of the registration boards to
erase the names of all who have been
convicted of such crimes. The dis.
qualifying crimes are Burglary
arson, obtaining goods or money under
false pretenses, perjury, bigamy, wife
beating, housebreaking, receiving
stolen goods, breach OF trust with
fraudulent intens, fornication, sodomy
incest, assault with intent to ravisn
miscegenation, larceny, or crimes
against the election laws. 1t Is pro
vided that the disabilities occasionet
by conviction of the crimes mentioned
may be removed by pardon from the
Governor, even after the name of the
voter has been stricken from the reg
istration lists.
Until after the general election o
1896. there is no change In the law a.
1t applies to incorporated cities ant
towns. After the general electici
can be held, all of the would be voter
must have been duly registered by
supervisor OF registration appointe,
/. by the mayor or intendant, as the cas-
may be. Before q certificate can be is
sued, the applicant must have sub
! scribed to an oath to the effect that h
has lived in the State two years, 1
, the county one year, and his pollin
= precinct four months next immediate
preceding the election.
There are, of course, numerous otl
er provisions In the law but it is onl
3 such as have been mentioned that e
pecially concern the individual al
I plicant for registration.