Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1902-03-21

Hon. John T. Michel, Secretary OF
State, Hon. Walter Guion, Attor-
ney General, has prepared the
following important opinion rela-
tive to registration, which will be
printed in circular form and for
warded to registrars of votes:
Attorney Generals Office, State of
Louisiana, Rooms 302 and 303 God
ehaux Building;
New ORLEANS, La, February 1, 1902
Hon. John T. Mitchell, Secretary Of
State, Baten Rouge, La.
DEAR SIR-I would have an
swered before your letter Sd De-
cember last, but as I-had at the
time, and have had since, great
deal of very important work to
do, laid it aside until L could
examine into the matter inquired
of by you, believing that no IN
jury would result to any one by
delay.
have, however, found the time
to. make an examination of the
law upon the subject, and beg
leave to report my conclusions.
As ! understand your letter, you
request me to give you an opinion
whether "under the law, new reg
istration is required in country
parishes in 1902" ! do not I'M
derstand that the "new and COM
lplete registration" provided for
by Section 81 of Act 100 of 1898,
to be made IN every year IN which
a general State election is held,
is required to be made during the
present year since there will be no
general State election this year,
but l think there should be no
reason for not experimenting the
Iexisting registration rolls by adj
ding thereto the names of all per-
sons DESTROYS of taking part in an
ELECTION other than general State
election, otherwise no voter would
be permitted to exercise the priv
ilege of voting at a Congressional
or other election unless he had
registered during the period of
registration had just previous to
the general election.
/ am not willing to believe that
the Legislature intended to de-
priye the voters of this State, who
possess all other qualifications
to exercise the privilege, of the
right to participate in all elections
merely because they did not reg
lister during a year in which a
general State election was held.
In fact, it is my opinion that,
when Act No. 100 is considered as
a whole authority will be found
therein for the registration of vot-
lers in all ot$he country parishes.
in order to enable persons DESTROYS
of participating in any election
TO be held therein, to qualify
themselves by registering accord.
ling to law.
| Section % of the Act declares
that the books, &C., of the regis.
trar of voters in the country par
ishes shall at all times be oper
to inspection by the public, "pro'
| vided the same does not inter.
| fere with registration" This Ian.
lguage implies that registration
may be carried on at any time
i Again, Sec. % declares that the
registrar shall not open this Office
in any boat, or water craft, sane
during sixty days, before the gen
eral election, shall not go to I'm
usual places" &c. This Language
also conveys the idea that ther,
could be a registration of voter
at other times than before q gen
eral election.
Again, l call your attention t.
Sec. 80 of Act. No. 1879, which
would also seem to authorize ,
J registration of voters at othe
elections than a general Stat
election. On the whole, therefore
! am of the opinion that it woul'
be proper for you to notify tn
registrar Of voters in, the countr,
parishes of the State, since yol
inform me that you have receive'
! many letters on the subject from
them, that it is their duty to reg
ister all voters legally aualified