The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-09-13
PRIMARY ELECTIONS 49, 49,
WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT THE NEW LAW
Who Can Register and Vote at the Primary Election
Next Tuesday, All Voters Must Declare Their
Politics-Law Does Not Disfranctisea
Voter Who ''Split His Ticket
on Governor Mayor.

Who can register and vote at the pri-
mary election, Sept. 16?
In spite Of all the explanations that
have been made, there still exists con-
siderable misunderstanding regarding
the requirements of the new law, es-
pecialy that part to the separation OF
the Republicans and Democrats.
Registration and voting are two dis
tinct functions-the one being a pre-
requisite for the other. The primary
election is mere incident to the regis
tration, the law providing that it shall
take place on the same day as the first
day for registration.
Registration is to be conducted in
all respects as for many years past,
save that the first day will be on Sept.
Is. or four weeks in advance of the
time fixed by the general election law,
which, to that extent only, is super
seeded by the primary election law
Any one can register on the Tues
day, seven weeks before the general
eiection-or on the Tuesday, two weeks,
or Saturday, ten days before the same--
who at the time Of registration is a
legal voter in the election district, or
who will become such on or before Nov.
4. If he or she moves into the district at
any time prior to o'clock in the ev-
ening Of Sept. Is, with the bona fide
intention of becoming a resident there
in, he or she may register con that day,
since the "thirty days residence" re-
CURED by law on November will have
been gained.
Legal voters must have attained the
age of q years, and have resided in the
state six months, and in the election
district thirty days. All native born
citizens of that age and residence are
legal voters. Foreign born residents
must have taken out their second
or final papesr,' which procedure
not the taking out of first papers,
only-confers citizenship and the voting
privileges on all foreign born children
who were minors when they arrived
in the United States. The naturaliza-
ton Of a foreigner also naturalizes his
wife without action on her part,
Must Register First.
Registration must be completed be-
fore voting at the primary election,
and the voting must be done before
the elector leaves the polling place, or
not at all. He cannot register and leave,
and then return and vote. While the
language Of the law is muddled on this
question, there can be no doubt as to
the fact.
The prf1n airy election law, in express
terms, says that all who register can
vote at the primary election, but else
where it materially qualities that state
nent. While all may register who will
be qualified to vote at the general elec-
ton, only those can vote at the pri-
mary election who, at the last general
election, affiliated with one of the po-
litical parties having candidates before
the primary election, and who gen
orally supporter the candidates Of
| such. political party, and intend to do
| SO at the general election.
In other words, only those who were
Republicans, Democrats or Populists
mot mid-roaders) two years ago, and
have not changed. Prohibitionists, So
cial Laborites, Social Democrats etc.,
can take no part.
ABOUT CHALLENGES.
While the law provides that the voter
shall declare himself as just stated, it
is largely to furnish a basis of inquiry
IN the event of a challenge. In it's
practical working the elector will not
declare. AT the last general election
affiliated with the Republican Cor
Democratic, or Populist) party, and
generally supported it's candidates at
such election, it is my present inten-
+ ton to support the candidates of that
i party at the next general election"
Not at all The average voter, having