Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-09-12
YOU MUST REGISTER
BEFORE YOU CAN VOTE
Last Act of Legislature Makes 1t
imperative That You Comply
With the Law.

by chapter 10 of the acts Of the
extra session Of the legislature OF
1908 there Is an absolute require
ment that voters shall be registered.
They cannot vote, unless registered
ten days before the election. The
day Of September in each general
election year. must appoint an officer
called a registraf for east election
precinct, and he registers qualified
voters. The registrar is given power
10 put certain questions to, persons
asking registration He can put amy
pepper question to them to ascertain
their right to vote. The registrar
is required to sit one day, tie tenth
Of October. to amend and correct the
LsUy after having given notice Of the
time and place OF sitting, for regsstra-
ton and correction at least ten days
before sitting, by placing printed
notices at each of tire voting places.
After completing his list the regis
VI dA Atu1ty dJ ttdct bttCtu u0tES UC
fore the election, FLEE his list with I
the clerk of the county court. The
county court rs required to meet In
special session on the last MsRday |
of Octoiser before a general election
to examine the lists or books r reg.
istration, with power to strike Off
persons not qualified voters, after
notice, and with power topet on
persons not listed by the registrar.
II seems efsat after the registrar has
registered a person as entitled tor
vote, the burden of. proof to strike 1
from the List rests on the county
court, WITH right to hidr 10 rebut the |
evidence offered to prove his dfs-
qualification. Any registrar who viii
fully Or naliciously registers a perl
son not entitled to vote, or reJectsj t
any person VINO is entitled to vote,
is made by che act guilty of "a felony
and Liable 20 imprisonment In the
penitentiary not less than ore or
more than five years. The regis
list at the poIEs is the con-
test ais to the right to- vote,
and the commissioners of election
are placed under lfatsility oRr fine
and imprisonment in rail for allow
ing one to- vute not onsthe list or re-
ftEsing onesa vote whor is on it.
The act requires the commission
ers of election to return to- the4
office the registration lists
along with the poll books and bali
LOT boxes /
The act requires the county court
have prepared suitable books and1
blanks for registration, and reanipesa
the clerIe TO deliver them ton tine reg !
Istrar. The book must be- so ar
as to present the names OF
in alphabetical order, and tue
act requires the hooks to show the
nam Of the voter, his ags, plaoe of !
birth, time of residence In the pre-
cinct, district. coglty and state and
if a nstt1raiized person, ths date n
court of naturalization
The registrar must ar once after
notice of appointment, sake an oath
to support the constitution Of the
United States aud Of the state, and
the best of has ability" The, certi-
f1cace of this oath mast be filed in
the county Clerks Office.
The registrars, immediately on APP
pofntment, must proceed to register
ana complete his work by the first
OF October. 1t is the duty to ascer-
tain who are voters; but voters
should themselves go to him and see
that theG names are pat on the lest.
Every voter should see that he is
registered; other wise he cannot
vote.