Fergus County Democrat., 1912-03-05
THEY WANT TO VOTE At THE
COMING SCHOOL ELECTIONS
IN SOME DISTRICTS.
TOTAL REGISTERED 2,3OO
Attorney-Generai Albert J. Galen Gives
Out An Important Opinion Answer.
ing Number Of Questions Raised
in Several Counties-Setties> Many
Points.

Registration picked up yesterday
and the total now stands at about g.
300. OF those whose names went on
the great register yesterday twenty.
five were women of Moore, who wish
to vote at the coming school election
to be held the first Saturday in April.
OF much interest and importance is
an opinion issued by Attorney General
Galen, in which he answers a large
number of questions concerning the
operation Of the new registration law,
these questions arising in Fergus and
other counties.
The Opinion.
The opinion says in regard to the
APPLICATION Of the law:
1T is clear from the provisions of
the act that it applies only to general
elections. primary nominating elec-
tions, general municipal elections,
general school elections and special
county elections"
In regard to the qualification for
voters in school elections, the attor-
ney general quotes the act as follows:
"No person shall be entitled to vote
at any election mentioned in this act
unless his name shall, on the day of
election appear on the copy of the
register or check list furnished by the
county clerk to the judges Of the
election at the precinct at which he
offers to vote. Therefore" says the
attorney general, voters in all school
districts, irrespective Of the class of
such district, are required to register
in order to vote at school elections" !"
Section Unconstitutional.
Insofar as it tends to deprive quail
fed electors of the right to vote at a
bond election, the following section,
the attorney general believes to be
unconstitutional:
"At any special election held for
any purpose in any county copies Of
the official register and check list
which were printed or written before
and used at the preceding election
must be used and no new registration
need be made" The attorney gen.
eral advises that in such cases, not
only should those whose names ap-
pear on the official register used at
the last election, be permitted to vote,
but also those electors who have reg.
istered under the new registration
law. The provisions of this act do
not apply to special school district
elections. In voting on a county divi-
sion the same law would apply as
given for bond elections.
Women who wish to vote at school
elections will have to comply with the
same laws as male voters, but in ad-
ditiOn will have to register every two
years when the registration is revised
after the general election, for only
those voting at the general election
will be re-entered on the great reg
lister.
The attorney general holds that all
voters residing within ten-mile ra-
dius of the county seat must appear
before the clerk and recorder to reg
lister, but that the following provision
is allowed for the protection of anyone
who cannot get to the court house:
IF said elector is unable for any
reason to conveniently register as
he may register, without
charge. before a notary public"
When naturalized citizen appears
for registration he must produce his
papers or make affidavit
that the same is lost, destroyed or out
Of reach. Children of naturalized
parents, however, who were born on
foreign soil, but entered the United
States while still in their minority,
do not nave to be naturalized.
Many Questions Answered.
Some questions propounded at the
county clerks convention at Missoula
are answered by the attorney general,
as follows:
"Must the elector vote in the pre-.
cinct of his residence?" "Yes, for on
no other precinct book will his name
appear"
MAY the county clerk register elec-
tors at other hours than from 9 a. III.
to p. m. ."Yes, he must keep his
office open on those hours on legal
days. but he may also keep 1t open at
other hours for the benefit of the pub.
!ic."
"If affidavit is made before a notary
before the 80 days before an election
and As not received at the office of
that clerk until after the books are
closed. will the elector be allowed to
voter" "Yes. for the real application
Of the elector was made before the
time limit had expired"