The Opelousas courier., 1902-09-27
Registration of Voters.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAW BY
ATTORNEY GENERAL GUION.

ATTORNEY GENERAL GUION.
Hon. John T. Michel, Secretary Of
State, having requested the opinion OF
Attorney-General Guion on his con-
struction of the registration OF voters
in the parishes of Louisiana, has le-
ported as follows:
81 would have answered before your
letter of December Sd last, but as | bad
at the time, and have since, q great deal
of very important work to do, | laid it
aside until | could examine into the
matter inquired Of by you, believing
that no injury couhs- result to any one
Il lave, however. foIgad the time to
make an { minationAT the law upon
the subject, and beg leave to report my
conclusions. AS understand your let
ter. you request me to give you an opin-
ion whether under the law new regis
tration is required in the country par
ishes in 1902. ! do not understand the
new and complete registration pro.
vided for by Section 81 of Act 1919 of
1898, to be made in every year in which
u general State election is held, is re-
CURED to be made during the present
year, since there will be no general
State election this year, but | think
there should be no reason for not sup
~pienlenting the existing registration
rolls by adding thereto the names OF all
persons DESTROYS of taking part in an
election other than a general State cleo
ton, otherwise no voter would be per-
| mitted to exercise the privilege Of VOt-
ing at a congressional or other election
| unless he had registered during the
| period Of registration had just previous
to the general State election.
81 am not willing to believe the Leg
| islature intended to deprive the voters
| of this State, who possess all other quail
ifications to exercise the privilege, OF
| the right to participate in all elections
merely because they did not register
| during the year in which % general State
election was held. In fact. it is my Opln-
ion that when Act No. 1919 is considered
as q whole, authority will be found
therein for the registration OF voters III
| all of the country parishes, in order to
| enable persons disirous of participating
in any election to he held therein, to
| qualify themselves by registering ac-
cording to law.
Section 90 OF the act declares that
the books, etc, of the register of voters
in the country parishes shall at all times
| be open to inspection by the public pro
| vided same does not interfere with reg
| istration.' The language implies that a
registration may be carried on at any
time.
"Agaiu, Section 2s declares that the
registrar shall not open his Office in
any boat or water craft, and during
sixty days before the general election
| shall not go to unusual places, etc. This
language conveys. the idea that there
could be registration of voters at other
times than before q general election.
"Again, l call your attention to Sec
| ton 80 Of Act No. 100, which would also
seem to authorize a registration of vot-
| ers at other elections than a general
| State election. On the whole, therefore,
I am of the opinion that it would be
proper for you to notify the registrar OF
voters in the country parishes of the
| State, since you inform me that you
have received many letters on the sub
ject from them, that it is their duty to
register all voters legally qualified, who
may present themselves for registration
in order to take part in the COMPRESSION
| al election this year."