Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-08-22
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.

In my travels over the county,
am often asked questions regarding
the different phases of the Primary
Election Law. This shows two
things. First, that the people are
interested in it, and second, that they
wish information regarding it. One
person said that he would not go and
get enrolled, as he regarded it as an
imposition on the part of the legis-
lature to ask busy men to 60 several
miles to enroll second time. Some
ask whether it is now to late to be
enrolled and on being told that it is,
they express rupugnance for the law,
saying that it does not give all an
equal show.
Then again there are many en-
rolled voters who seem to be indif-
ferent, and do not appreciate the priv
ileges extended to them by the law.
or else they do not comprehend its
full import. They say that they go
to the polls and there find a ticket all
ready prepared, and they have to vote
that or none. That they were not
consulted and had no chance to ex-
press themselves as to the names
found printed on the ticket All Of
this goes to show complete misun-
Outstanding of the provisions of the
law Or rather it shows that the law
is by some not understood at all.
These voters are not at fault. The
law is new and has not been worked,
a. ~,
it ought to have been.
"The law provides that any quail
fed voter who failed to have his name
enrolled on enrolment day by reason
of sickness, or unavoidable absence
from the election precinct, or who
of age, or a qualified elector since en-
rollment day, may have his name en-
rolled on any primary election day
upon making oath as provided in the
general election law relative to the
registration of electors on election
days; or any person who was duly
enrolled, but who has since changed
his residence to any other election
precinct may be enrolled in his new
election precinct and may vote there
in, if he has resided in such new pre-
cinct for period of twenty days be-
fore the primary election. He may
get a certificate from the enrolling
officers, where enrolled stating that
he was duly enrolled in such precinct,
or he may make proof Of the fact by
oath before the election inspectors Of
the new precinct. In any of the fore
going cases he may still be enrolled
and allowed to vote at the prima
ries.
"All enrolled voters and all entitl-
ed to vote under the fore roing pro-
visions of the law, who fail to attend
the primaries August 27th next, GER
tainly show a lack of appreciation
of their privileges, if they are so sit
uated that they can get to the polls.
THE people now have chance to
express themselves as to whom they
desire to have nominated for the sew
era offices, to be voted upon at the
coming November elections. Let the
people govern the question as to
" Nose lldlIIC SlIdll dppGdl upOll lHC
ticket this fall. Your vote may be
the one that decides the question,
henc. the Importance of your putting
it in. We want all the best officials
in the respective offices and it is now
up to the enrolled voters to say who
they believe to be the most compc-
tent to I'll them.
III we wake up to the privileges
given us under the Primary Election
and go to the polls and vote, it is
only a question OF time whci the Of
flee will seek the man and not the
man the office Offices will be filed
with men because OF their peculiar
fitness for the place, and not ON ac-
count OF their office seeking abilities
and the people will sec to it that
proper distribution is made of the de-
sirIale places which in equity and
justice OIL, Int 10 be passed around to
those qualified to fill them"
]. LEE POTTS.