Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-01-23
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISEIN
VIRGINIA.

HE work of the unconstitutional
Constitutional" Convention of Virginia
has occasioned so much discussion and
elected so much comment that it may
be of interest to analyze the effect of
the change which took place January
LIST, 1904 as set forth in that instru.
ment.
ALI persons white, and colored who
/ were registered previous to that time
are now on a permanent registration
list and can always vote or be assisted
by the election officers in voting. pro.
vIded they have paid six months pre-.
ceding the poll-tax of (s1.5O) one dollar
and hfey cents assessed against them.
The veterans of either the United States
or Confederate armies are excepted
from this poll.tax provision, and can
vote whether they have paid it or not.
Any one who is not now registered
can be registered, provided he pays all
the poll-taxes assessed or assessable
against him under this or the former
Constitution for the three years next
preceding that in which he offers to
vote. In plain words, a voter must
now pay (S4.50) four dollars and fifty
cents If he now wishes to register. If
he has just become of age, he must pay
poll-tax of (Sl.50) one dollar and fifty
cents.
In addition to this, he must be able
tn read and write, to such an extent
that he can make out his application TO
register without aid, suggestion or
memorandum, stating therein his
name, age. date and place of birth, resi-
dence and occupation at the time for
the two years next preceding and
whether he has previously voted, and if
so, the state, county, and precinct in
which he voted last.
This will be test of tests, for under
this provision the applicant could be
made to memorize this section of the
law, for, if he filed out the application
and failed to state the date of his birth,
he could be rejected, or if he failed to
state his occupation. he could be re-
jected.
He will then be required to answer
under oath all questions affecting his
qualification as an elector.
1t will be seen that the Grandfather
Clause is no longer operative and that
no one can now register by virtue of his
being veteran in either the United
States or Confederate armies. If they
failed to avail themselves of the priv
lege last year, they are barred out.
Any person, white or colored, who
was registered before January /, 1901.
may be aided in the preparation of his
ballot by such election officer as he
may ask to help him. The law pro-
vides, too, that the ballot box shall be
kept in public view during all elections,
and that it shall not be opened or the
ballots counted or canvassed in secret.
1t provides that the ballot shall have
no distinguishing marks or symbols ano
that the form thereof shall be the same
throughout the state.
The law provides for the appointment
of an electoral board of three. ali of
whom may be Democrats, which cleo.
toral board is to appoint the judges,
clerks and registrars Of elections. 1t
mildly suggests that the judges of elec-
tions appointed, so far as possible shall
be so named as to give representation
to the two political parties, which at the
general election preceding their APP
pointment cast the highest and next
highest number of votes.
We have stated the main features of
the election law under which we are
now living. The effect has been to
eliminate large proportion of the col
ored voters of the state, but it has ON
the other hand wiped out many white
men who presumed that they would
still exercise the right Of suffrage.
Virginia is now ruled by an oligarchy
and the elective franchise is no longer a
synonym of popular government.
AS strange as it may seem, many ig-
norant white men can vote in this
state, and many intelligent colored men
are denied the same privilege.
1t is but fair to state that every edu-
Gated colored man will now be able to
register, if he so desires and the law is
administered as il is written.
We console ourselves with the thought
that even though it may be bad, in the
language of the colored brother, it
might have been "much Hyussar -