The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-02-22
The Law OF Registration.

In response to an inquiry by Hon.
John T.. Michel Secretary of State,
Hon. Walter Guion, attorney gen.
eral. has prepared the following inn
portant opinion relative to registra-
ton, which will be printed in cIrcu-
lar form and forwarded to registrars
of voters:
Attorney Generals Office. State of Louis
lana. Rooms S02 and 303 Godchaux
Building;
New Orleans. La. February l. 1902.
Hon, John T. Michel, Secretary OF State
Baton Rouge. La.
Dear Sir would have answered
before your letter Sd December last.
but as had at the time, and have
had since, great deal of very i'm
portant work to do, l laid it aside
until L could examine into the matter
inquired of by you, believing that no
injury 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 l under
stand your letter, you request me to
give you an opinion whether "under
the law, new registration is required
in country parishes in 1902" l do
not understand that the ''New and
complete registration" provided for
by Section "a of Act 1919 of 1898, to
he made in every year in which a
general State election is held, is re-
qured tn be made during the pres
ent year since there will be no gen.
eral State election this year, but l
think there should be no reason for
not supplementing the existing regis
tration rolls by adding thereto the
names of all persons DESTROYS of TAX
ing part in an election other than
general State election, otherwise no
voter would be permitted to exercise
the privilege of voting at a congress-
ional or other election unless he had
registered during the period of regis
traitor bad just previous to the gen.
eral State election.
am not willing to believe that the
Legislature intended to deprive 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 register during year in
which a general State election was
held. In fact, it is my opinion that,
when Act No. 1919 is considered as
whole authority will be found therein
for the registration of voters in all of
the country parishes, in order to en-
able persons desirous of participant
ing in any election to be held there
in, to qualify themselves by register
ing according to law.
Section % of the act declares that
the books etc., of the registrar of
voters in the country parishes shall at
all times be open to inspection by
the public provided the same does
not interfere with registration"
This language implies that registra-
ton may he carried on at any time.
Again, Sec. % declares that the
registrar shall not open this office 10
any boat, or water craft, land dur
ing sixty days, before the general
election, shall not go to unusual
places, etc. This language also con-
veys the idea that there could be a |
registration of voters at other times
than before a general election.
Again, l call your attention to
Sec. 80 of Act. No. 1919, which would |
also seem to authorize a registration
of voters at other elections than
general State election. On the whole |
therefore, i am of the opinion that it
would be proper for you to notify
the registrars of voters in the coun-
try parishes of the State, since you
inform me that you have received !
many letters on the subject 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 Congress-
lonal election Of this year. | am,
Yours. very truly.
(Signed) WALTER GUIoN,S
Attorney General.