The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-07-07
CODE CHAPTER IS
NOT VERY PLAIN
Question in Dispute at jackson Is APP
pIcabIe to Hattiesbure and Other
Cities of the State-Congressional
Election.

JdcKSOn, MISS, July "A COnpllcd-
tion arising out of peculiar working
of the primary election law is worry
ing a good many of the local politi-
clans just now, and it is likely that the
attorney general will be called upon
for an opinion which will be neces-
sary in order to arrive at a proper
Strengthening ont of the tangle.
Stated briefly. it is contended by
several well posted politicians that a
man who registers after July cannot
vote in the municipal election which
is to be held on Tuesday, December s,
while others contend that those regis
tering up to August should be enti-
tied to vote.
Section 3433 of the code of 1906
says: Every. person who is a quail
fed elector of the county shall be en-
titled to register and vote at all mu-'
nicipal elections. But no person shall
be allowed to vote unless he shall be
registered in the municipality four
months before the election at which
he offers to vote"
Section 41SS says: Every male in
habitant of the state shall
identified to vote at any election held
not less than four months after his
registration" etc.
The regular congressional election
in the state will be held on Novem-
ber 3, and it is contended that only
those who are qualified to vote in that
election will be able to vote in the
municipal election held more than a
month later, even though they regis.
ter after July and before August s,
which latter date is four months in ad-
vance of the municipal election, this
contention being based on the clause
requiring that they be qualified cleo
tors in the county.
/ On the other hand it is held that a
voter registered after July would be
qualified electof in the county il
there was an election held on the date
of the municipal election, and that they
would therefore be regarded as quail
flied electors under the law, and that
under existing conditions a man other
wise qualified could register on the day
of the municipal primary, July 20, and
become qualified to vote in that pri-
mary and in the general election as
well. 1t has been held that the -four
months registration clause does not
apply to primary elections.
Another disturbing feature in this
competition is that committee is tc
be appointed to revise the polls books
five days in advance of the primary
and the question arises as to whether
/ other names could be. entered pm the
Epoll books after this revision. and si
so, would this action be legal?
While these are matters of Law
purely, and not merely questions. t.
be decided by the~executive committee
it is being considered by that body
and will likely be submitted to City AT
torney Thompson for an opinion ant
may go up to the attorney generals OF
flee before 1t is settled.
This is the first time within th'
knowledge of the members of the exec
utive committee that such situation
has arisen in the state since the pr
mary election law has been effective
and is brought about by the primar
and the general election coming so ia
apart, the primary elections in the]pas
la,.ins haon hn1f1 sororo5 - ~