Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-07-15
MIR. LYON INTERPRETERS.
The New Registration Law---Adyises
Strict Compliance.
columbia State. J,


The opinion given by Attorney Gen.
esai Lyon on the new registration
law Will he sent to every board nr
registration in the State by Governor
Ansel. Governor Ansel considers
the law most important and thinks
that all boards should be familiar
not only with the statute, but with
the Interpretation of It's provisions
as given by the Attorney General,
The opinion of Mr.. Lyon, with the
instructions sent out by Governor
Ansel. will result in rigid applica-
tfon of the law in purging the books
OF hundreds Of names not entitled to
place thereupon. 1t is given below
as follows, that published In the
state few days ago having been
put rough draft, which was not In
tended for publication at the time.
TO His Excellency, Governor M. T..
Ansel, Columbia: Dear Sir--Re-
spending to your inquiry heretofore
as TO what Is necessary to comply
with the laws as to registration and
re-enrollment for the year 1908, I
Will say that 1t Is my opinion:
That each and every person who
has heretofore registered and become
qualified elector must, during 1908.
re-register and have his name re-
enrolled upon the registration books
In the same manner as IL 1t were
an entirely new registration and en-
rollment: Provided, however, That
persons who were registered and en-
rolled before the year 1898, shall be
entitled to re-registration and their
names shall be re-enrolled upon pre-
sentation Of their registration GER
tffcates heretofore issued, or upon
presentation of a certificate from the
Clerk OF Court, or Secretary of State,
that their names appear upon the re-
cord or persons registered before
January 1, 1898. That upon presen-
tation of such certificate from the
Secretary Of State, or the Clerk of
Court, or Of the original registration
certificate issued to such qualified
elector, new registration certificate
should be issued him.
All persons who have registered
and become qualified electors since
the year 1898 must apply for regis
tration and re-enrollment in the same
manner as If never registered or en-
rolled before, and upon showing COM
pliance with the provisions of the
constitution emitting him to registra-
ton and enrolment, a new certificate
or registration must be issued him
and his name re-enrolled.
Upon the new books of registration
to be made up during the year 1908,
the names of all persons who have
registered since the first day of jan
uary, 1898, should be enrolled.
That section of the act of 1898,
providing that the books Of registra-
tion shall be kept open at the several
county seats every day, Sundays ex-
cepted, during the months of July
a OF yc, Nn1 srt.
pie time during a convenient part of
the year for all persons who desire to
do so to present themselves for reg
1stration and re-enrollment and was
not intendede to limit the time for
such registration and re-enrollment,
as 1t clearly appears by the act that
this may be done at any time when
the board is required to meet during
the year 1908.
Section further provides: "And
In addition thereto they shall at
tend, during the month Of Septem-
ber, 1908, at least one day in each
township, in their respective counties,
of which at least 10 days notice shall
be given by advertisement in a news
paper published in the county; and
in counties containing $4,000 inhabi-
tants they shall attend in each city,
town or industrial community, con-
tanning 800 or more inhabitants, at
least one day, upon similar notice:
Provided, That the provisions of this
section shall only apply to the 70 en-
rollment and registration for the
year 1905" ....
It will be noted that it Is not op-
tional with the boards of registration
to attend at the various places de-
scribed above, but it is made manda-
tory; in the discharge of their du-
ties they must give at least 10 days
notice Of the time and place Of their
attendance, In each township or in
dustrial community described there
in.
The opini, given above may be,
and doubtless Is, a very strict con-
struction Of the law. Nevertheless, I
feel that II 1t Is followed, the validity
Of registration in accordance with the
same cannot be questioned.
Yours very truly,
j. Fraser Lyon,
Atfnrnay ..enoro1