The Detroit times., 1910-01-22
ENROLL IN
APRIL TO VOTE IN
PRIMARIES
|ew Election Law Makes Vital
Change, Which Is Likely To Re.
suit in Light Polling for
Nominations.
Jan Devised To Prevent Gross
'Oting-NO oppwtunity To Change
Party Allegiance Between En-.
rollments.

A very vital change made by the
W state primary law. as affecting
ections in Detroit. is the provision
hich allows only electors who have
alihed by partisan enrolment in
Pril to participate in the party NOM
ations in September.
This means that every voter in De-
pit who wishes &c have any vote in
u nomination OF mayor. sheriff or
y other city or county official next
l will have TO enroll at the April IN.
llment. The former law applied
by to state officers. the enrolled
ters alone having the right TO vote
state nominations. Many were
ht out under this law through lack
Nearly interest ana failure to enroll.
Nudge James .. Murlin pointed out
he more widespread application Of
he new law in a speech Thursday
ening. His view OF the law is in
rsed by Judge +. O. Durfee, VINO
s served on the county election
mmission Tor years and made a
ecial study OF election laws
'Only the voters who enroll In
bril- can lake part IN the primaries
err" said s Judge Durfee briefly.
hat is the law"
THE theory OF the law is that all
rsons who are active members or
= political party will enroll in that
q rty 1t Is intended to bar out men
mo do not belong TO any party from
y rticipating in the caucus OF that
rty and also to prevent "cross-vot-
"a" whereby Democrats have often
eted in Republican caucuses and
kmetlme vice versa.
&That Is the reason that the enroll
Pant date is fixed early. AS a matter
fact, the effect Is apt 10 be the
lifting down of the list O. those
Hlgihle to take part in nominations
very large extent. out In the
hte the enrolment is simultaneous
Il IN the spring election and the vot-
s will enroll. but In the city where
ere is no election at that time,
Neat share OF the citizens who DO
ID take an intense interest in poll
s will not 90 near the election booth
that day, and will find themselves
FRED from voting at the primary
lection later.
Voters may change their party alleg-
1ce after the first enrolment by
8lifying the enrolment board. But
Is can be done only on enrolment
ry. the first Monday in April. ii,
<erefore, offers no loop-hole for the
nam who wants 10 change his politics
Tween the spring enrolment and the
II primary.
This is the most vital section OF the
W law with regard TO Detroit and
#ayne county elections:
Sec. 4. No person shall be per-
Emitted 10 vote at any primary
Rejection held In this state unless
Die shall have been enrolled, in the
manner herein provided, as
|member OF a particular political
Nparty, except. in cases OF new
political parties.
This section also provided that Il
IAN may enroll even il he is not reg
a cred. Electors who We're enrolled
kder the previous act need not re-
roll
+Section 10 of the law provides for
x rollment OF persons who were i'll or
tavoidably Fbsent from the election
|ecinct at the time OF the regular
rollment, this supplementary enroll
lent TO be made on primary election
IL. 1t also provides for transfers of
f rollment the same as transfers OF
Ngistration.
THE primary election will occur on
le first Tuesday after the first Mon
~ in September, the nominations for
Ihited States senator, governor and
,rutenant governor being made at the
,.me time as the local nominations.