The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-04
THE NEXT REGISTRATION.

We find that there is plentiful lack
of information on the part Of the masses
as to who may register this year. 1t IS
we'll for our people to be correctly posted
upon the subject No one who registered
last year will be required to register
again this year, but all who were not
registered then may register this year IN
the same manner as persons who regis
tered during the registration of 1902.
The language Of the registration ord-
nance is that prior to the 18th day of
October 1902. and again prior to the 18th
day of October. 1903. there shall be a
general registration for each of the coun-
ties, cities and towns Of the State.
1t is we'll to remember that section 20,
article 2, of the Constitution, provides
that after the first day Of January. 1904,
every male citizen of the United States
having the qualifications as to age and
residence required In section Is shall be
entitled to register. provided he has per-
scEally paid to the proper officer all State
pol! taxes assessed or assessable against
him under this or the former Constitution
for the three years next preceding that
In which he offers to register SO 1t
will be seen how desirable it is for all
rersons qualified to register to do SO
prior to October Is, 1903.
We append the opinion of the Attorney
General on this subject given some
months ago
Richmond, Va. March "a, 1908.
Tc Hon. Joseph E. Willard,
President of the Senate of Virginia:
Sir,--The following resolution of the Sen
ate has been submitted to me:
..Whereas, there is a doubt upon the
minds of many citizens Of this State as
to the right of the registration boards
appointed by the Constitutional Conven-
ton to register voters at this time, and
whereas it is desirable that all such
doubts should be settled; therefore, be 1t
Resolved by the Senate OF virginia,
That the Acknowledgement of the Com
nonwealth be, and he is hereby. re-
quested to investigate the question and
submit his opinion to the Senate"
In response thereto, l have the honor to
say that in my opinion legal reglstra-
ton of the qualified voters OF the COM
Inonwealth can be made under the regis
traton ordinance adopted by the Consti-
tutional Convention at any period prior
to October 18th during the year 1908. pro-
vided the notice of the times and places
where shtll registration boards will open
the DDoKS OF IeslStIdlOll IS SNeIi, dii'
the registrations conducted In the manner
prescribed In said ordinance. Said boards
are expressly authorized and required to
sit consecutively. or at such intervals of
time as they may prescribe. and TO sit
for as many as ten days during the year
1905, and on such additional days as they
may be expressly authorized to sit by the
Judge of the County Court of their county
or OF the Corporation Court OF their city;
but they are directed to complete each
registration by the 18th of October and
must deliver one of the duplicate copies
of the registration books. in which they
arc required to enroll the voters regis
tered by them. to the judges of election
Tor the appropriate precinct, reasonable
time before the election TO be held IN
1905,
The registration for 1908 may, subject
to the foregoing limitations, be lawfully
made at such times as the respective
boards OF registration may FIX,
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM A. ANDERSON,
| Attorney General.