The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-16
REGISTRARS MAY NOT SIT Question As To Code
 Provision. ELECTION NOT GENERAL" Heavy Poll Expected on Amend
 ment. Board of Registrations wm Certainly Not sit in Every Beat of Ceun-
 ty and Perhaps Not at
 Court Houses

Some question has arisen over the eligibility of persons to register and vote in the election on constitutional prohibition which will occur about December 1. The law does not require unavoidable inability to attend the to sit in every precinct at least once day, as this is the off year for that purpose. They sat last year for the registration of all persons qualified and therefore will not sit again, for regular business until July 1, 1910. according to the Code of 1907.
 In some quarters the doubt Is ex- pressed as to whether the. boards of registrars will even sit on Friday and Saturday preceding the day of the constitutional amendment election. There are hundreds and hundreds of citizens who for various reasons could not register at other times but who would like now to have the opportun- ity. It is certain that efforts will be made to have the registrars sit at every county seat in the court house for these two days of the week pre- ceding the election on the constitu- tfonal prohibition amendment.
 Section 30S of the Code of 1907 has this to say of special registrations: "On Friday and Saturday next preced- ing the day of each general or munic- tpai election. held under the municipal laws of this State, the registrars shall sit in the courthouse of each county. during such days, and in the event, etc" But nothing therein seems to specifically provide for a special elec- tion. Some lawyers contend that the election on the amendment would be chased a general election and could therefore be made the occasion of special sitting of the registrars.
 But in all events the registrars will not go into each precinct as they are required every two years to do. For this reason it Is predicted that If there Is a special sitting on Friday and Sat- urday preceding the coming election. the rush to register will be notable. The election gives promise of the keenest interest and both sides are likely to hustle to the polls every possible voter. The belief now is that it will bring out the largest poll ever recorded at an election not primary. If registration Is allowed this prophecy will come nearer vertf- ication than otherwise.
 As to who will be entitled to regis ter on the Friday and Saturday before the election. Section sos seems to ap- ply. It opens the way for 'all who have attained the age of 21 years since the last date of registration. or who  shall prove to the reasonable satfefac- ton of the board that by reason of she physical disability of himself or sickness during the period when the board of registrars were registering the voters in the precinct where the applicant resided, in his family. or books are opened at all /, In past registration at other times. or by req son of absence from the county. he had no opportunity to register prior to said time. and they shall not on such day register any other persons
 With reference to the last deciara- ton of the session. 1t may be stated that if precedent Is followed there will be a general registration if the pays 30 cents per bushel; the House elections all persons who were quali- fled and had paid the poll tax were admitted to register If they omitted the duty during the regular sessions.