The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-10-12
Not Necessary This Year Elk.
cept In Certain Cases.
MIR. NOLAN'S OPINION
Only New Voters or Those Who Have
Changed Their Residence Need Reg
lister in Flathead This Year.

Two weeks ago when County Attorney
Gray gave formal opinion that it would
be best to register this year in order to
avoid possible trouble, the Bee ventured
to disagree with him. For the purpose
of clearing up the matter the Bee ad-
dressed an inquiry to Attorney General
Nolan and the reply was received yester-
day. In the meantime Mr.. Gray has
changed his mind, as will be seen by the
published notice elsewhere in this issue,
and is now in perfect accord with the
attorney general.
General Nolan's letter is as follows:
Helena, Mont, Oct. 8, 1900.
"The Kalispell Bee, Kalispell, Montana:
"Gentlemen:-Replying to your favor
of the 4th, section 12O6, as amended by
the sixth legislative assembly, after pro-
viding for the registration of voters and
prescribing in general terms the times
and places Of registration, provides as
follows:
"'That except in registration districts
included in any Incorporated town or
city, which town or city contained at the
last preceding state election over one
thousand registered voters, such general
registration of all voters shall only be
required every eight years, from and
after the year 1898, and any person who
has been registered in any district ex-
cept as above noted. at any time within
said eight year periods, and who has
been continuous resident of such dis
trict since such registration shall be en-
titled to vote, if otherwise qualified,
without further registration. If at any
time it shall be made to appear, by the
affidavits of two credible and responsible
electors of the district, that any regis
tered person has died or permanently
removed from the district, the registry
agent shall place such affidavits on file
and shall cancel the entry with red ink,
and shall enter the date and cause, and
such cancelled name shall not appear in
the printed list, copies of the official
registers and check lists herein provided
for.
1T will be noticed that an eight year
registration period is provided for COM
mencing with the year 1898, and in every
instance where removal from the dis
trict has not taken place the registration
is effective for the period named. The
only exception to this rule exists in the
case of a registration district in an in
corporated town or city where one thou
sand registered voters existed in 1885, or
at any succeeding eight year period. 1t
is only in the case of a registration dis
trict in an incorporated town where this
exception is recognized. If registra-
tion district in a rural district includes
more than one thousand registered
voters, or if registration district in an
Incorporated town includes less than one
thousand voters, the general rule of a
registration being effective for eight
years, holds good, provided, of course, Il
change of residence from the district has
not taken place. There is no reason why
the legislative assembly could not law
fully exercise their authority in provid-
ing for registration in this way. Under
the law as it exists there is no necessity
for voter who resides in a district not
within the exception provided for in the
law, to incur the expense and labor of
registering oftener than once in eight
years. Very truly yours,
"C. B. NOLAN,
Attorney General"
AS there is no registration district in
any rural community in Flathead county
which contains 1000 registered voters
and no incorporated town in the county
with registration district containing
1000 registered voters, there will he no
registration required in this county this
year except in the cases of new residents,
new voters who have reached the age
qualification, or those who have changed
their residence from one registration dis
trict to another.