Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-28
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Ballot Clerk,


Important.
1.-THE ballot clerk before whom the
above named person subscribed and
swore to the foregoing statement shall
sign the above certificate to the effect
that said person voted in the said pri-
mary election, and within one week
thereafter the said ballot clerk shall re-
turn said statement with the endorse
ment thereon to the city clerk, and the
city clerk shall thereupon enroll said
voter in the enrolment list of the party
designated by him." Urinary election
law.)e
Third. In plantations and towns of
less than 1000 inhabitants no enroll
ment is required. In such places reg
istration alone is necessary, and amy
voter legally qualified to vote there
in, shall upon giving his name and
party utilization. be given a ballot of
his party. his name checked upon the
voting list, and he shall be admitted
to the voting booth and vote" (Pri-
mary Election Law, Section 49,
| That is all there is to the question
of party enrolment, except in those
cities or towns where party enroll
ment is governed by some special law
(See r. S. Oh. 6. Section 1l2) At one
time we had such a special law in Au-
gusta (Chapter 354, Private and Spe-
cial Laws of 1909, but it was repealed
by Chapter 40 of the Private and
Special Laws of 1911.
In view of the foregoing, it will
,ls a
sion for alarm because there are some
II 600 voters to be enrolled in Portland
tinue until June II. But to enable the
city clerk to furnish the wardens with
duly certified copies of all enroll
ment lists, arranging each political
party separately and its names of vo-
tiers therein alphabetically" as pro-
| vided by Section Is of the Primary
| Election Law, it is certainly impera-
| tive that enrolment should begin
promptly, and the suggestion of the
| Express that the city and ward com.
| mittees cooperate to this end, is q
| most timely one. Let us profit by il
| in our own city.
| Our contemporary errs in this fur.
| Their statement, namely, that in order
to vote at the primary election tn,
voter must have voted for the candi.
dates of that same party at any cleo.
| ton in which he voted within sia
months of the date of the primary
Such is not the law. No voter is a
any time compelled to state how h,
has voted at any election, primary o.
otherwise. The provision which tn,
Express evidently has in mind is tina
part of the voters oath to be made il
case of his enrolment at the polls
wherein he states: II have not takel
part or voted at the caucus of an,
other political party in the six month
last past
In this connection, there is anothe
thing to be observed. 1t is only thos
few belated voters who have neglect
ed to enroll themselves prior to tn
} election, and who are enrolled by tn
ballot clerk at the polls, who are re
qured to state that they Intend t
! vote" for the candidates of their par
: " at the election next ensuing.
: voter who enrolls himself with tn
/ city clerk prior TO the election Or. S
l Oh. 6, Sec. 1922 states merely that h
: elects to be enrolled as membe
. of the party"
, The Express is to be commended fe
: calling attention to this matter, an
/ we trust that the Republicans i'm a
j cities and in towns of 2o00 inhabitan
or moro, will awake to the important
OF early enrolment.