The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-30
The Governors Commission
Make Few Alterations
in Existing Laws.
WHAT 1T RECOMMENDS
Urges Registration by Affidavit on
the Saturday Preceding and
on Election Day Be
Abolished.
rspecial to ..The Jersey city News.'.l


commission appointed by Governor
Griggs to revise the election laws has
been holding meetings in Elizabeth for
the past two weeks and has completed It's
labors The commission consisted of Sena-
tor William M. johnson of Bergen, Judge
Robert S. woodruff of this city, and
Judge Joseph w. Cross of Elizabeth.
The object of the commission was to
codify the laws relating to elections.
After eliminating irrelevant portions OF
the existing laws they have compiled
general election act to be presented to the
incoming Legislature. No radical changes
in the present laws will be recon-
mended, and the chief result of the work
of the commission will be to wipe out
conflicting passages now existing
The elction laws of New Jersey have
never been revised since 1864. The bal
lot reform law did not act as repeater
and amendments have been tackled on
here and there from time to time until IN
some cases three or four sections contain
penalties for the same offence.
When the commission, was appointed
Governor Griggs invited suggestions re-
lative to changes in the general election
laws and the response exceeded his an
ticipation The various proposed changes
submitted were forwarded to the COM
mission and all were duly considered, but
few of them were acted upon.
Judge Woodruff was seen by re-
porter yesterday, and in response to
query said no radical changes would be
recommended to the Legislature. The
commission had aimed, in considering the
DO + ft,e1 lou into I1ifrih
principal recommendation, Judge Wood
ruff said would be with reference to a
needed change in registration by affi-
davit. The commission had decided that
registration by affidavit on the Saturday
preceding election day, and election day
ITSELF was apt to lead to the employment
of dishonest methods. They therefore re-
commended the abolition of registration
by affidavit on these days.
Some of the statements made in regard
to the registration of voters convinced
the commission that the real object OF
the registration of voters was defeated
to a large extent by, permitting reglstra-
ton by affidavit. Allegations were made
charging that wholesale fraud was pos
sible. and that much illegal voting had
resulted from this practice. rms is done
under the election law of 1885, which
reads referring to the district boards OF
registry as follows :-"They shall register
the names of all persons in their respec-.
tive election districts or precincts entitled
to the right of suffrage therein at the
next election, who shall personally ap-
pear before them for that purpose, and
such other persons as Shall be SHOWN py
the written affidavit of voter residing
in the same election district to be law
fully entitled to vote at the ensuing cleo
ton; provided, that no person shall be
registered if his right is challenged un-
ho hal w
prove to the satisfaction of the majority
of the board that he is entitled to vote in
that election district or precinct at the
next election therein.
'.And in case the names of any legal
voter in any election precinct or district
has been improperly or inadvertently left
apply to the County Board of Elections
for the purpose of having his name
placed upon the registry list. and the
County Board of Elections, upon applica-
tion to them for that purpose and upon
proper evidence satisfying them that
such person is a legal voter entitled to
vote at any such election, may give their
certificate to that effect, that such voter
may present said certificate to the board
of registry and election of the district or
precinct in which he is entitled TO vote,
and said board shall receive and lille SAID
certificate and add his name to the regis
try list and he shall thereupon be allowed
to vote at said election.
Under that section it is claimed that on
election day itself, when it is too late to
make an examination, ward workers fre-
quently went before the county board and
regis tered by affidavit may fictitious
names. Where voter appears in person
his right to register may be questioned
and he is obliged to prove by affidavit or
otherwise his right to vote" On the other
hand voter may by simple affidavit have
registered an unlimited number of voters
who fail to appear in person. The COM
mission learned that paid agents of politi-
cal candidates and organizations procured
many certificates for voters who would
not appear before district board of reg
istry because their right to register might
be questioned. With a certificate from
the county board, however, it was deem
ed mandatory on the district boards to
register the voter and accept his vote ac-
cording to the present law. To obviate
this the commission Twill suggest that
county boards issue no certificates except
to voters who appear in person.
1t was also decided to recommend that
the terms of the members of the county
boards of elections be made two years in.
stead of one Xear, and that the terms be
so arranged that two members, one of
each political party, should retire each
year. This is done in order that the
county boards may at all times contain at
least two experienced members. Under
the present system the members are In
variably reappointed, but it is possible
for the chairmen of county committees
and of the State committees, who make
the nominations to the Governor, to select
npxu ms each