The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-01-07
SAYS VOTERS MUST
EXHIBIT RECEIPT
Attorney General Writes Of Richland
Election. Sections RGconciIed.

| ElectlOn. SECTIONS KGcOncilGd,
Columbia, Jan. 3.-Attorney Goncr-
al Peoples in an opinion rendered yes
| tcrday held that voters must show
proof of having paid all taxes for last
year in the special election next Tues
day to select a successor to the late
| George II. Rcmbcrt in the house from
Richland county.
,Construing all Of these provisions"
says the attorney general, 81 am fore
ed to the conclusion that in order to
vote in the special election referred
to- the voters should show the pay
ment Of all taxes. including poll tax,
assessed against them during the wear
1913"
The opinion was given in response
TO Il letter from John II. Miller, mem
Der OF the house from Richland coun-
ty
Following is the opinion of the at
torncy generals:
| January 2, 1914.
Mr. John IT, Miller, Member House
OF Representatives, Columbia, S. G..
Dear Sir: | am in receipt Of your
request for an opinion as to the quail
itcationS Of voters in SO far as the
payment Of taxes is concerned who
desire to vote in the special election
to be held OH the 9Th day Of January,
| 1914, to fill the vacancy in the house
OF representatives from Richland
! county.
Section 4, article 2, Of the consti-
tuition, prescribcs the qualifications for
suffrage, Subdivision a of said section
refers to the residence OF voters and
provides as follows
| Residence in the State for two
years, iii the county one year, in the
polling precinct in which the elcctor
offers to vote four months, and the
payment sir months before any cleo
ton Of any poll tax then due and pay
able: Provided, That ministers in
charge Of an organized church and
teachers Of public schools shall be
entitled to vote after six months res
idcnce in the State, otherwise quail
fed
Subdivision r. Of the same section
provides as follows
Managers Of election shall require
Of every elcctor offering to vote at
any election, before allowing him to
vote, proof Of the payment Of all
taxes, including poll tax, assessed
against him and collcctiblc during the
previous year. The production Of a
certificate or Of the receipt Of the
officer be conclusive proof Of the pay
mcnt thereof
You will note that there is an ap-
parent difference between the two sec
tions quoted; the one providing for
the payment six months before any
election OF any poll tax then due and
payable, and the other providing that
| the managers Of election shall require
proof OF the payment Of all taxes, in
Guiding poll tax, assessed against the
| 'o'ci anu NoiicCllblc uuIlnS inc pre-
vious year.
Under section ii5 Of the code of
1912 all taxes shall be due and pay
able between tho 18th day of Octo-
ber and the 3lst day OF December af-
ter their assessment in each and cv-
I'cry year. Constituting all OF these pro-
| visions together | am forced IN thn
conclusion that in order to vote in
the special election referred to, the
voters should show the payment Of all
taxes, including poll tax, assessed
against them during the year 1913.
This view is supported by the case
of Wright VS.. Board Of Canvassers, &c
;. G., in which the same question was
before our supreme court. The cleo
tion in that case was held in Janu-
airy, 1906, and the supreme court in
rendering its opinion held that it was
mandatory that every voter should. as
a prerequisite to voting, offer proof
OF his having paid his taxes for the
year 1905.
81 am therefore Of the opinion, un-
der the provisions OF law above refer
red to and the decision of the su-
prcmc court referred to that the vot-
crs in the special election to be held
on the 9Th day Of January, 1914,
should show proof Of the payment
OF all taxes assessed and collcctiblc