Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-03-21
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
THE SUFFRAGE CLAUSE.

An agreement was reached lAtsyes'
J tsrday afternoon on new suffrage plan
which is to be presented 10 the con-
stitutioDal convention by Senator
Daniel. The plan is the outcome OF
the democratic subcommittee.
1t provides that every male twenty
one years old living in the State for
two years, county for one year, and
precinct for thirty days shall be allowed
| to vote provided he has paid his poll
| tax, registered, and has not been dis.
qualified by having been In prison.
| The plan also provi les that no persons
| who, during the late war between the
Stat ss, served in the army or navy OF
the Unit id States, or OF the Confederate
| States, shall, st any time, be required
to pay poll tax ss prere 1uisite TO
voting. The qualifications provide
that the son OF person who served In
time of war shall be allowed TO vote.
That person who shall have psid TO
to the State taxes amounting ID 81 on
property possessed by him shall be al
lowed TO vote, provided he 10 able to
read any section Of the constitution to
the officers of registration. All persons
properly regist cred under this provis-
ion shall remain permanently enrolled
as electors unless subsequently disqual-
fled by some other provision OF this
article, and copy OF this permanent
roll, sworn to by the officers of regis
tratiou, shall be certified to each per-
sou who shall bs denied registration
under this section, and they shall have
the right OF appeal to the Circuit Court
OF the county or the Corporation Court
OF the city, or to the judge thereof 'in
vacation.
Ga January l, 1909, the foregoing re.
quirements as to registration shall
expire by limitation; provided, howey-
or, that the General Assembly TO be
elected 10 1907 may, In its discretion,
submit to the qualified voters OF the
State the question as to whether or not
the foregoing requirements of this Sec
ton for registration shall continue In
force.
After January /, 1904, every male
citizen of the United States who has
acquired residence in this Stats 10 &C.
oordance with section of this article,
and not previously registered under the
foregoing provisions of this constitution,
shall, as a further condition precedent
to registration, have paid all poll taxes
assessed or assessable against him for
the next preceding three year,; or, II
he comes OF age during the year 10
which be offers to register, shall have
paid $3.50 in lieu OF the frat years poll
tax 10 be assessed against him, and
shall, unless he be physically disquali-
fed, make application for registration
10 his own handwriting 10 the presence
OF an officer OF registration, according 10
such form and 20 be verified on oath or
affirmation in such manner as may be
prescribed by law.
Every person registered under this
provision who is not blind or otherwise
physically disabled Shall prepare and
deposit his ballot, without aid from en-.
other, on such printed form as may be
prescribed by law; but any voter regis
tered prior to January l, 1904, may be
aided in the preparation OF his ballot
by such officer of election as he may
himself designate.
The property qualifications is to be
eliminated, but the ownership OF proper
ty Is to serve as an enfranchiser to per-
sons who cannot register under the IN
Outstanding clause. The educational
feature is retained In registration and
in the preparation OF ballots by voters.