The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-09-15
THE PRIMARY LAW.
Important Changes Made Last
Winter.
ALL MUST ENROLL.
No Person Nominated Without
IS Per Cent Vote.
No Enrolment Possible Within Two
Months Of Election-O Otherwise
May Enroll at Any Time.


A number of important changes were
made in the primary law by the last
Legislators. Among these, the amend
ment to Sec A, relative to the time of
holding primaries, was one of the most
important. The new law provides:
Sec. A. No person shall be permitted
to vote at any primary election held in
this State, unless he shall have been en-
rolled in the manner herein provided as
a member of a political party. The
voters in the various political parties
shall be afforded an opportunity to be-
come enrolled voters of the particular
political party with which they are
affiliated on the first Monday of April
preceding the August primary election
and on the last Saturday in January of
each year. Provided, however, That
any qualified elector may become en-
rolled and he eligible to vote at any
primary election if he shall DELIVER
TO THE CITY OR TOWNSHIP
CLERK OR OTHER OFFICER IN
CHARGE OF THE ENROLMENT
BOOK A WRITTEN REQUEST for
said enrolment accompanied by an
affidavit setting forth that he is quail
fed elector of said township, ward or
precinct, and that it is bona fide his in
tention to affiliate with the political
party in which he seeks to enroll: Pro-
vided, however, That no enrolment
by notice and affidavit shall entitle any
elector to vote at any primary that shall
occur WITHIN TWO MONTHS from
the date of said enrolment. 1t shall be
necessary for ALL ELECTORS to be.
come enrolled under authority of this
act and no elector shall be deemed
qualified enrolled elector who has been
enrolled under any prior act subsequent
to the date this act takes effect.
This, it will be noticed, provides two
enrolment days, one in January and
one in April. 1t also provides that
qualified voters may enroll at any time
up to TWO MONTHS BEFORE ELEC-
TION.
Sec 8 after providing for the deliver
ing of the enrolment book to the enroll
ment board, ETC., says;
Whenever any qualified elector shall
apply for enrolment but shall neglect
or refuse to give the name Of his party
or If he has none, he shall not be enroll.
ed. Whenever qualified elector is en-.
titled to enrolment he shall be enrolled
by the said board as a member of the
particular political party which he
names.
Sec. 16 says: A general primary cleo.
tion for all political parties shall be
held in every election precinct in this
State on the last Tuesday in August
preceding every general November elec-
tion, at which time the enrolled voters
Of each political party shall vote for
party candidates for the Office of Cover
nor, Lieutenant Governor, and United
States Senator Provided That no
nomination for the Office of United
States Senator shall be made, unless
such official is to be elected at the next
session of the legislature A general
primary election for all political parties
shall also be held on the first Wednes-
day in March prior to the spring elec-
tion at which time the enrolled voters
of such political party shall vote for
candidates for county officers filled at
the spring election, for candidates for
circuit judge and for candidates for city
Offices In cities in which the provisions
of this act are applicable.
The last part of this section provides
for nominations to fill vacancies which
were not provided for under the old law.
Whenever special election shall be
called to fill any vacancy in any office,
the candidates for which are regularly
nominated in accordance with the pro-
visions of this act, special primary
election for all political parties shall be
held in the city, county or district in
which such vacancy occurs, on the
tenth day prior to the date of such
special election. When in any case
the tenth day prior to such special cleo
tion shall fall on Sunday or legal
holiday, such primary election shall be
held on the day prior thereto. In the
case of special primary election, it
shall be the duty of the proper board of
election commissioners to prepare the
necessary number Of ballots for every
political party. participating in the last
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