The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-03-26
THE NEW REGISTRATION LAW.
he Conditions Necessary TO Become Voter
in his Stale,

Tho Conditions Necessary to Become Voter
in h.s Stale.
Tho new registration law is quite
lengthy and very stringent in its pro-
Visions; but COMPREHENSIVE idea Of
1t can DO gathered from the following
! Until January |, 1898, registration
shall be in tho hands of three super
visors in each county, and after Jan
uary !, 1898, the work will be in charge
OF one supervisor in each county.
Until January |, 1898, all male citi-
| ZnnS who havc been residents OF the
State for two years and their rcspcc-
| live polling precincts 70" 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 Tie cOnstitu-
| tlon, and who can read or understand
the constitution, are entitled to regis
ter and become electors. After Jan
uary /, 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 pro-
vious year, must be able to read and
write any section OF the constitution,
| or must 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 ut the court house on the first Mon
| day in April next, and kept opcn for
| SIX consecutive weeks. They must be
opened aguia on the first MONDAYS in
June, July, August and September and
kept open one week in each month.
They will be closed 30 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 9unlihca-
tion for voting. II the applicant is not
satisfied with the ruling OF the board
he can take his case to IL circuit Judge
or the circuit court, and from there TO
isIcrcd on or before january |, 1898,
will be qualified voters for life unless
thcy should be subsequently disquulili,
ed on account OF other provisions Of
tho constitution.
PROVISION is made for the renewal OF
lost or destroyed certificates and for
the transfer OF registration from one
county to another. 1t is the duty Of
the clerks OF the court to keep regis
tratl"n boards advised OF all cOnvic-
tions for disqualifying crimes, and it is
ti.c 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 prctenses, perjury, bigamy, wife
bcnting, hOusebrcaking, receiving
stolen goods, breach OF trust with
fraudulent intcnS, fnrnication, sodomv,
incest. assault with intent to ruvisn
misccgcnatlon. larceny, or crimes
against the election laws. 1t is pro-
vidcd that the disabilities accustomed
ny conviction OF the crimes mentioned
may be removed by pardon from the
Governor, even after the name Of the
| voter has boon stricken from the reg
| istration lists.
! Until after the general election of
1916, there IS 10 change in the law as
1t applies to Incorporated cities and
towns. After the general election
can be held, all C the would be voters
must have been duly registered by Il
supervisor of regis ration appointed
by the mayor or intendant, rs the case
| may be. Before Il certificate can be is
sued, tho applicant must have sub
scribcd to an oath to the effect that he
has lived in the State two years, in
the county one year, and his polling
| precinct four months next Immediately
preceding the election.
| There arc, OF course, numerous 9th
or provisions in the law /; but it is only
| such as have been mentioned that cs-
pccially concern the individual ap-
| plicant for reg istration.