The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-10-21
The Franchise Amendment.

The two amendments to be voted on by the
people next month have been published in
the ADVOCATE since the 9th of August. One
ofthe proposed amendments simply authorizes
the State to make appropriations TO aid IN the
construction and maintenance of public roads.
As the Constitution now stands the power to
do so was regarded as doubtful, though the
Court of Appeals has, since the amendment
was proposed, decided the power ample.
The other amendment relates to the qualif-
cation of voters. The Governors proclama-
ton submitting the amendments is necessarily
long, and perhaps some persons for that rea-
son have not read it. The suffrage amend
ment is short, and We give it to our readers
below, stripped of the certifcations by the
presiding officers of the Senate and House and
the part the Governors proclamation. The
first paragraph of Section contains the quail
fication for voters as now required in the Con-
stitution, and the real addition is contained IN
the last four paragraphs.
Everybody should read the amendment and
here it is:
Section l. All elections by the people shall
be by ballot. Every male citizen OF the United
States, whether native born or naturalized, OF
the age of q years or upwards, who has re-
sided in this State for one year and IN the
Legislative district of Baltimore city or IN the
county in which he may offer TO vote for SIX
months next preceding the election, and who
moreover is duly registered as quahhed voter,
as provided in this Article, shall be entitled
to vote in the ward or election district IN which
he resides at all elections hereafter to be held
in this State; and in case any county or city
shall be so divided as to form portions OF diff.
ferent electoral districts for the election of
Representatives in Congress. Senators, Dele.
gates OF other officers, then to entitle person
to vote for such officer, he must have been a
resident of that part of the county or city
which shall form part OF the electoral DIS
trict in which he offers TO vote for six months
next preceding the election, but person who
shall have acquired residence in such county
or city, emitting him to vote al any such cleo
lion. shall be entitled to vote IN the election
district from which he removed until he shall
have acquired residence III the part OF the
county or city to which he has removed.
Every such male citizen of the United States
having the above prescribed qualifications OF
age and residence shall be entitled to be reg
IStered so as 10 become a IaailneI Nutet u Ae
be
First-A person able to read any section OF
the Constitution of this State submitted to him
by the officers of registration and 10 give a
reasonable explanation of the same or if IN
able to read such section Is able to under.
stand and give reasonable explanation
thereof when read to him by the registration
officers; or
Second-A person who on the first day or
January. 1859, or prior thereto, WAS entitled
to vote under the laws of this State OF of any
other State of the United States wherein he
then resided; or
Third-Any male lineal descendant Of such
las, mentioned person who may be twenty one
(2l) years of age or over in the year 1905.
No person not thus qualified by coming
under some one the above descriptions shall
be entitled to be registered rs qualified vo-
ter, nor be entitled TO vote.