Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-03-27
New Election Law.

gomery corrupt practices act which
specifics what shall be termed as prop
er expenses of candidates, thand new
ballot law which will become effective
for the next general election, the law
maKers passed an efficieat registration
bill to take the place Of the present far
! cial measure on the statute books and
a law limiting the time within which
certain offenses NAV be punis he'd
| There is only one section in the lat
ter measure and it reads az follows:
No prosecution shall be had for any
violation of the laws concerning
elections by the people, or Of The
laws relating to 1.-THE nomination
Of candidates for public office unless
indictment be foand, or presentmsnt
be made, or prosecution begun for the
offenss within one year after the same
was committed
/ The registration law, known az SEN
ate bill No. 40 is con eeded to be one OF
the best measures enacted at the close
OF the session, the Legislature taking
cognizauce of the distlnct sentiment
abroad fer an efficient registration
| law.
Section l of the bill provides that
the county courts of the several coun-
ties shall appoint not later than Sep
TENDER in years when a general elee-
ton is to be held, = register for each
voting precinct in the state The su o
ceeding section directs the county
conrts to have prepared suitable books
and blanks for the work of registering
the voters and shall distribute the
books to the registrar in the voting pre-
cincts. The book shall be arranged 20
as to admit OF alphabetical classified
tion of the voters and in columns shall
be entered the name of the person re-
gistered, age, place of birth, time Of
residence in precinct, Idistrict county
ana state, and if naturalalized, the
date of papers and the court by which
issued.
Before the registrar shall register
the name of any person he must be-
satisfied of his qualifications and he Is
endowed with authority TO administer
oaths, and may require the person de
string to register to answer under oatl
thefollowing questions:
l. are you citizen of the United
States?
Are you alive or naturalized citi
zen?
8. Will you have resided iii this STATE
for one year Immediately preee dins
the coming election?
I A. Have you been ,abstn nj from tbs
state within the year immediately pre-
cedng the coming election2 (lf yes
when?
When you left this state did yel
leave for temporary purpose with thu
intention of returning; or for the pur
pose of remaining away?
@6. Did you while absent look upoi
or regard this state as yours?
I. Did you while absent vote in an,
other state?
s. viii you hsve resided in thi
county sixty days prior to the coming
election?
8. When did you last come into thi
county?
10. When you came into this county
did you come for contemporary pun
pose or for the purpose Of making
your home?
OIL. Did you come into this county 70
the mere. purpose of voting IN thi
county?
@12. Dldlyou come into your preclne
merely for the purpose of voting in it
ID. Are you an actual resident {
that !preeinet?
IA. Are you q years of age, or wi
you lat the looming election to th
best of your knowledge and belief?
The registrar. has also been endowe
with authority to ask any other que
tons torascertain the qualifications
the person desiring to be registers,
The egistrar shall not allow the nan
of any foreign born or resident citise
TO be registered until his naturaliz
ton papers or certified copies of Il
sane sbe,iproduced, or the applicai
take oath that such papers have bee
lost or destroyed.
The srew law requires that Il
registrars shall have completed the
work onlor before the LIST day of Oct
Der, and then shall give notice Of Il
time andsplaee of sitting for reglstr
ton and correction beginning Oct lit
and givingione day for that purpos
Qualified voters may be registered
an, time after the appointed days f,
registration are past, but not lat
than ten days before the general ele