The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-28
AND IS YOUR NAME
WRIT ON THE BOOKS
Must Permanent Voters Reg.
lister for City Election?
CONSTITUTIONS WORDS
Language Of the Amendment Appears to Per
nit Permanent Voters 10 Vole in All
Elections Without Further
Registration.

us your name written there?" is apt
to prove a matter of much interest to
the voters of North Carolina.
The There in this case is on the per-
manent registration roll of voters in
North Carolina and the wherefore of this
is whether or not any other registration
is ever needed for such voters.
This question comes because of new
registrations ordered in municipal cleo
tions, and in elections for dispensaries
and bonds 1t is a serious one and it is
apt to require a judicial hearing be-
fore it is settled
The requirement for voting in the
cities and districts is that the voter be
registered, and when a new registration
is ordered in a city there is not any
machinery known of by which such city
Is to provide a permanent roll of voters.
The franchise amendment to the State
Constitution has not yet been considered
in its application to city elections but
it is apt to be.
The educational provision Of the amend
ment is we'll known: that ability to read
and write any section of the Constitution
is required of all except those who on
the first of January, 1867 or at any time
prior 20 that date were entitled to vote
in the State in which they resided, and
their lineal descendants, provided that
in all cases where due the poll tax of
the previous year shall have been paid
before the first of May in the year in
which the election is had.
The General Assembly being required
to do so, has prepared record books for
the permanent voters, and those who
previous to the last State election en-
rolled under the grandfather clause"
have their names in these books of rec
ord, and for all time are exempt from
further registration in State elections
All understand this. But in the Con-
stitution of the State following these pro-
visions there comes these words in sec
ton 4, Article concerning the perma-
nent registered voters land all persons
so registered shall forever thereafter
have the right TO vote in all election by
the people in this State, unless disqual-
flied under section 2 of this article, pro-
vided such person shall have paid his
poll tax as required
Section requires residence in the
State for two years. county six months,
and in election district four months pre-
ceiling the election and Sorbids &he
franchise to persons convicted or who
have confessed their guilt in open court
for any crime the punishment of which
is Imprisonment in the States Prison,
unless restored TO citizenship in the man
ner prescribed by law.
GFLHoravor thornaftar m Votp N al cleo
lions by the people in this State" is
what the Constitution says is allowed the
permanent registered voter. The ques-
ton then is, do the words call cleo
lions" cover municipal elections bond
elections, dispensary elections, school
elections and others not State elections.
There is no proviso in the Constitution
about these words "all elections" and
it appears from them that once on
the permanent roll no other registration
is needed.
The great Importance of this matter
will be seen when it is applied to cleo
items in which a majority of the qualified
registered voters is required. Must the
permanent registered vote be counted,
whether or not the voter has registered
again on the books for such election, or
uiuSC the lOii DC tuuSu "
the vote otherwise registered in order
to obtain the number of qualified voters
in any special district?
This is a question for the legal fra
ternity and the case is referred to it,
To a layman it seems that once on the
permanent registration rolls the voter,
under the Constitution, is not required
to register again for any other election
| - 5teIr ~ ord
registration.