The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-04
Defines Who Shall Vote Under
Present Laws In September
When Prohibition Is the Issue
Must Register Ali
! Voters Before Oct.
And Judges to Decide Who Are
Entitled to Vote In Statewide
Election --- Person Must Be
On Treasures or Old Sol
der List

The general law upon the matter
Of regisfration--as found in section 7s
of the Goodwill govern the question OF
3who viii be entitled to vote in the
sprohibition election in Septeber, az
.scording TO an opinion rendered yes
Sterday by Attorney General John Gar
land Pollard. The opinion was trans
United to Governor Stuart, who had
{AAked for IL at the request of the
Anti Saloon league.
The enabling act does not provide
| for = new registration nor for any
amethod OF registration defining the
4 AsectorAte for the Statewide election,
those persons who qualified TO vote
ii the November election OF 1919; those
1 10 have paid all poll taxes required
Law prior TO the second Tuesday
IA June. 1914, and those who may be
froAAe Of age prior to the date for the
holding Of the election.
The attorney general holds that Ii
will be the duty of the registrars under
sAectiOn rs OF the general law TO regis
Ter IL any time before October 3. 1914.
Ill voters who may be qualified in the
November election: when the judges,
therefore are called upon to dec,de
who are entitled TO vote in the Sep
tsmhcr election Ii will be their duty
10 Determine whether the name %. the
person offering is either on the frst or
second "treasurers list" or whether he
l. ~ on the permanent old soldier list of
I1e0z-3. II he be on either list then
the Judges must ascertain II lie has
Ifegisfered. and If the registrar is bound
! ~ fe@tater all persons otherwise quail
t&ted UP TO October 8, 1914, he IS legally
19ftf1ed to vote.
1AN opinion OF the attorney general
III reply to AN inquiry from the gov
1fnor f0llows:
The specific question which YOU put
n whether persons who have complied
with the provisions OF section 4 of said
act but who have not yet registered
may register and vote in the election
~ De- held In September. Section l Ct
{ths act reads as follows:
-The qualifications of voters sat any
'Alection held under this ac, shall he
such N are prescribed for voters by
the general law. Provided the follow =
lng persons only shall be qualified to
meta II such election. namely: All psc-
Dons who were qualified TO vote at the
regular November election, 1919. and
MI other persons. who are otherwise
1uAliied and have personally paid. III
{1A&at SIX months prior to the second
Tu@sday In June of the year 1914. all
Estate poll taxes assessed or assessahie
EAenlnat them during the three years
NEXT preceding the year of 1914: and all
51uch other persons who shall become
! " lawful age ~ time when nc capt.
#tAtion tax was aSsessahle agatns. them
Etcs the year 1919. and shall thereafter
sFegieter by reason of becoming of law
eful ago prior to the date herein fixed
Nor the holding of said election"
Il A. many questions are coming to
EAhio office involving the construction
Eof this act. think II proper to give
[you an annayisis thereof, which will
lnct only answer the question PUT hs
EFou but which may be used to answe-
other questions which have come 10
xthis office, and In which there seems
Ac ~ general interest.
The section quoted provides that the
Qualifications Of voters at the election
u September shall be such as are pre-
Dcri6ed by general law, and further
srOvidas that the following persons
DnIy shall b qualified to vote At such
Al10e1oa:
I. Al persoas who were qualified 70
~o<e q the regular November cleo
hoa. 1913.
Il u. All other persons who are ta)
InthaxWtse oualihed and (b) have per-
3honalay paid, At least SIX months prior
~ the second Tuesday In June, 1877.