The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-07-24

Attorney General Explains Law
On an important Point

THAT a voter may register with the
city or township clerk at any time, and
may even so to the primaries and reg
lister there the same day he votes, is
Tho ruling of Attorney General Gran;
Follows. according to word received by
. down-statc candidate, who sought
information regarding the registration
of voters, who wish to vote in the pri-
maries.
The opinion of the attorney general
is as follows:
am in receipt of your letter in
which you request the opinion of this
department upon the following inquir-
les. rs there no provision in the law
as il now stands for registration day
preceding the primary election? Can a
qualified voter. not registered become
registered on primary election day by
applications to the inspectors and then
vote On the same day."
Under Act No. PSI of the Public
Acts of 1909, as amended by Act 279
of the Public acts of 1911, the voters
in the various political parties were
given an opportunity to become en-
rolled voters of the particular politi-
cal party with which they might be
affiliated on specified dates in each
year. The amendment of 1913, how
ever, the same being Act lis. does
away with the necessity of party en-
rollment. Registration for the pri-
mary election is governed by the pro-
visions of section of the act of 1913,
which provides in substance that no
person may vote at "A primary election
unless he IL a registered and qualified
elcCtOr. Any one who is a qualified
clector but not registered may per-
sonally appear before the township or
city clerk, as the same may be and
procure his name to he registered in
the registration book. Likewise the
inspectors may register any person
who appears before them on primary
day and takes the necessary oath OF
allirmation; or such inspectors may
register any one whom they know To be
a qualified voter No other provision
for registration is found in the act in
its amended form, consequently, i'm or
der to vote at a primary election the
elector must be duly qualified and reg
istcred either under the provisions of
the general primary law or in accord
ancc with section of the primary law
as amended by Act rs of 1913. In this
connection, | call your attention to
reads as follows:
There shall be no other registra
ton day or days for either a primary,
a general or special election, except
that prescribed by the general election
laws and i'm this act"
There is no provision requiring that
an clcctor who registers i'm accordance
with section 4 of the primary election
law, as amended, must be SO registered
for definite period of time prior to "A
primary election in order that he may
be permitted to participate therein
Accordingly, there would seem to be no
legal objection to prevent a qualified
olcctor or who registered on primary
election day from voting on the same
day. II occurs to me that the investing
OF the inspectors with power to regis
Ter in person on any primary election
day was intended to apply to precise
ly such'a case as is suggested by your
second inquiry, and to permit the cleo
tor, If qualified to register and vote at
the primary ON the same day. 1t is my
opinion accordingly that your first
question must be answered i'm the
heSati"' and your second in the af-
flrmatlvc