The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-04-27
(CharlOtte Observer.)

In connection with the discussion
now going on in North Carolina with
reference to restricting the franchise,
the following synopsis of the Consti-
tutional requirements for a voter in
various States Of the Union may prove
interesting:
The Louisiana franchise act, pro-
vides that a qualified voter must
be a citizen of the United States,
a resident of the State for two
years, the county one year, and the
precinct six months. III unable to
read and write, as provided by the
Constitution. then he shall be en-
titled to register and vote il he shall,
at the time he offers to register, be
the bona-fide owner of property as
sessed to him in the State at valu-
alton of not less than $500 on the as
sessment roll of the current year in
which he offers to register, or on the
roll Of the preceding year, if the roll
of the current year shall not then
have been completed and filed, and
on which, il such property be per-
sonal only, all taxes shall have been
paid"
The South Carolina election law
provides that voter must be citi-
zen of the United States, resident
of the State for two years, the county
one year, the town four months and
the precinct four months. He must
also have paid for six months before
the election any poll tax then due,
and must read and write any section
of the State Constitution, or can
show that he owns and has paid all
taxes due the previous year on
property in the State assessed at
| $500 or more.
A voter in Mississippi must be a
citizen OF the United States, who can
read or understand the Constitution.
and who has paid all taxes. He must
also have lived in the State two years
and in the county and precinct one
year.
The laws of Georgia require that
to become a voter citizen must have
resided in the State one year and the
county six months, and must have
paid all his taxes due since 1877.
Connecticut and Massachusetts re.
quire voters to be able to read and
write the English language. after q
residence in the State Of one year.
The States of Rhode Island, Della
ware, Maine, Massachusetts, New
Jersey and West Virginia exclude all
paupers from the right to vote.
In New York State a voter is dis
qualified if he has been convicted OF
any crime, or who had paid or prom
ised to pay compensation for giving
or withholding votes, or who has laid
any wager on the election.
The Vermont law is the most
| water-tight of all. In that State nc
person can vote except those .'whc
have obtained the appreciation OF the
board OF civil authority Of the towr
in which they reside" These boards
have absolute power to say who shall
| and who shall not vote. 1t is dis
| reimbursement on scale never dream
| ed of in the South.
| Persons convicted Of felony or othe
infamous crimes. idiots, lunatics ant
those who deny the being OF an AL
mighty God are not allowed to vot'
in North Carolina.
| In Delaware a citizen must pay
registration fee Of 81. 90 before he j
allowed to cast his ballot.
! The new Western States are th
most liberal in their franchise re
| quirements. Colorado, Idaho, Wy
oming and Utah allow any citizen o
/ 4 ho a. ln "a Ia, 1
vote, after residing in the State 81
months
| Oregon allows white male citizen
OF the United States to vote after re
| siding in the State six months.
| Tennessee and Pennsylvania requir
voters to have paid their taxes 70
the two years preceding the cleo
ton.
citizen OF California who is un
able to read the Constitution in Eng
lish, and write his own name, is no
allowed to cast ballot
The Australian ballot law, or pla,
based on it, is in force in all tn
States except North and South Caro-
lima.
The requirements for electors il
South Carolina. Louisiana and Mis-
sissippi serve to almost completed.
disfranchise the negro voter. and h
is. therefore, not factor in the poll
tics OF those States.
The registration Of voters is not re
quired in the States OF Indiana an'
Oregon, and it is prohibited by Con
stitutionai provisions in Arkansas an
West Virginia
Women are allowed 10 vote on loca
questions in Arizona. Connecticut
illinois. Delaware, Indiana. Iowa
Kentucky, Massachusetts. Michigan
Minnesota, Montana. Nebraska, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, NortI
Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon
South Dakota. Texas. Vermont, Wash
ington, Colorado and Wisconsin.
Al. 4