The Opelousas courier., 1902-08-02
Registration of Voters.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAW i,
ATTORNEY GENERAL GUION.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF II LAW BY
ATTORNEY GENERAL GUION.
Hon. John T. Michel, Secretary oil
State, having requested the opinion Of
Attorney General Guion oD his cor
stIuCtlon OF the registration of voters
in the parishes of Louisiana, has To-
ported as follows:
II would have answered before your
letter of December Sd last, but as ! had
at the time, aud have since, Il great dea
of very important work to do, | laid il
aside until I could examine into the
matter inquired Of by you, believing
that no injury could result to any enc
by delay.
II 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 let
ter, you request me to give you an Opin-
ion whether under the law new regis
trati0n is required in the country par.
isles 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
q general State election is held, is re-
CURED to be made during the present
year, since there will be DO general
State election this year, but | think
there should be no reason for not sup
Pc menting the existing registration
rolls by adding thereto the names of all
persons DESTROYS OF taking part in an
election other than a general State eiec-
ton, otherwise nc voter would be per-
mitted to exercise the privilege of vot-
ing ut a congressional Oh other election
~unlessaete had registered during the
psSiJd Of registration had just previous
to the general State election.
81 am not willing TO believe tile 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 q general State
election was held. In fact. it is my opin-
ion that when Act No. 100 is considered
as a whole, authority will be found
therein for the registration of voters in
all of the country parishes, in order to
enable persons disir0us of participating
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
istratioD.' The language implies that a
registration may be carried on at any
time.
Again, Section 90 declares that the
registrar shall not open his. Office ID
any boat or water craft, aud during
sixty days before the general election
shall not go to unusual places, etc. This
language conveys the idea that there
could be Il registration Of voters at other
times than before a general elections
"Again, | call yonr attention to Sec
ton SO of Act No. 1919, which would also
seem to authorize a registration of vot-
ers at other elections than a general
State election. On the whole, therefore,
/ am of the opinion that it would be
proper for You to notify the registrar of
votets 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 congTession-
al election this year"