The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01
WHO CAN VOTE.
Rules uo.crning Demccra;Ec Primaries In
this State.

Rules uoIerning DemccraIc Primaries In
this State.
The constitution Of the Democratic
party of South Carolina has the fol-
lowing provisions regarding the hold
ing OF the primary elections OF the
party in tais State
Articles VI. For the purpoaa OF
nominating candidates for governor,
lieutenant governor and all other
State officers, including solicitors in
their respective circuits and congress
men in their respective districts and
United States Senators ard all county
officers. except magistrates and mas
ters and supervisors of registration, a
direct primary election shall be held
on the last Tuesday in August OF each
election year, and q second and third
primary each two weeks successively
thereafter if necessary. At this cleo
ton only Democratic white voters
who have been residents OF the State
y months and the county GO days
preceding the next general election,
and such negroes as voted the Demo
cratic ticket in 1876 and have voted 1t
continuously ever since to be shown by
the certificate OF ten white Democratic
voters, who will pledge themselves to
support the nominees of such elec-
tions, may vote. provided no person
shall ne allowed 10 vote except his
name be enrolled on the particular
club list at which he offers to vote, at
Ieat FIVE days before the day OF the
FIRST primary election. Each club
shall have separate polling place for
primary elections.
The club rolls of the party shall
constitute the registry list and shall be
open to inspection by any member OF
the parry and the election under this
clause shall be held and regulated un.
der the act OF the general assembly of
this State, approved Dec. %, 1888, and
any su bse quent acts OF the legislature
Of this Stale. The State executive COM
mit.es shall meet on the Friday after
each primary, or such other time as
may be designated by the chairman,
TO canvass the vote and declare the re-
suit as to all State officers, congress.
man and United States senators. All
contests for all nominations at prim
ary elections shall first be heard by
the county executive committee of the
county in whichsuch irregularities may
have occurred, and may be reviewed
by the State executive committee,
whose action shall be final; provided,
that no vote shall be counted for any
candidate who does not file with the
chairman OF the State executive COM
mittee, or with the respective cnairmen
Of the county executive committees, a
pledge in writing that he will abide
the result of such primary and support
the nominees thereof, and that he is
not, nor will he become the candidate
of any faction, either privately or
publicly suggested, other than the re-
gular Democratic nomination; pro.
vided further that no candidate shall
be declared nominated unless he re-
ceives o majority of the votes cast for
the Office for which he is candidate;
provided that the pledge Of such can
didate shall be filed on or before the
day OF the first campaign of the coun-
ty or State respectively.
Rules one and two says who are en-
titled to vote. They read as follows:
The rules say:
Rule 1. The qualification for mem
bership In any subordinate club OF the
Democratic party in this State, or for
voting at Democratic primary shall
be as follows, viz: The applicant for
membership, or voter, shall be 81
years of age, or shall become so be-
fore the succeeding general election,
and be q white Democrat, or a negro
who voted for General Hampton in
1876 s.nd who has voted the Democrat
ic ticket continuously ever since. Pro
vided, that no white man shall be ex-
cluded from participation in the Dem
ocratic primary who shall take the
pledge required by the rules Of the
Democratic party. The managers at
each box at the primary election shall
require each voter in a Democratic
primary election, 10 pledge himseH'to
abide the result of the primary, and
to support the party, and to take the
following oath and pledge, viz: II do
solemnly swear that I am duly quail
fed to vote at this election according
to the rules of the Democratic party
and that I have not voted before at
this election, and pledge myself to
support the nominees OF this primary" "
Rule 2. Every negro applying for
membership in a Democratic club or
offering to vote in a Democratic pri
mary election must produce a written
statement of ten reputable white men
who shall swear that they know Of
their own knowledge that the appli
cant or voter voted for General Hamp
ton in 1876 and has voted the Demo
cratic ticket COZ tinuously ever since.
The said statement shall be placed in
the ballot box by the managers and
returned with the poll list to the coun-
ty chairman. No person shall be per
nitted to vote unless he has been en-,
rolled on club list at least fve days
before said primary election.
The club lists shall be inspected by
and certified to by the president and
secretary and turned over to the man
ayers to be used as the registry lists.