The Ocala evening star., 1915-08-24
ATTORNEY GENERALS OPINION
Qualifications Necessary for Voters in
County Division Election


Qualifications Necessary for Voters in
County Division Election
Editor Star: / beg to hand you
herewith copy of letter from T. F.
West, attorney general, of Florida,
which letter is in my possession and
subject to inspection, relative to who
are entitled to vote on the Bloxham
County question, and which / would
be very glad for you to publish for
the information of the voters.
Very truly yours.
w. o. Brewer.
Mr.. Vests Letter
Tallahassee, Fla. Aug. II, 1915.
Mr.. w. o. Brewer, Romeo, Fla,
Dear Sir: 1 have yours of August
9th and note the following inquiry:
with reference to who shall or who
shall not vote on the Bloxham coun-
ty question, will you kindly advise
me at your earliest convenience who
are qualified as to registration. Would
persons desiring to vote on this ques-
tion who are registered voters at
precinct several years ago but who
did not re-register last year for the
last general election be qualified to
vote in this special election on this
question? For further explanation
we will suppose that A and B were
registered at precinct c several years
ago and have never moved their
names from the registration book Of
said precinct, but who have moved
their residence into different coun-
ties or different parts of the county
in which precinct c exists; said par
ties not having returned to vote or re-
register, or have voted in the precinct
in which they at present reside. Sec
ond, suppose a young man has be-
come of age since January 1st, 1914,
would he be entitled to vote in either
case and under what conditions? Any
further information which you would
deem having bearing on this ques-
ton and any portion of the statute
to which you might refer me for a
clear and definite understanding of
this election matter will be greatly
appreciated, as well as your early re-
ply. If person were registered last
year for the primary would he have
to re-register for the general cleo
ton of the same year to be qualified
to vote this year,"
Mr.. Vests Opinion
In reply will say that in my opin-
ion those persons are qualified to
vote in this election whose names
appear upon the registration books
of the county for general elections, of
the precinct in which they reside
whom have paid their poll taxes due
as required by law and who reside
within the boundaries Of the propos-
ed new county.
A young man who reaches the age
of 81 since the registration books
closed will not be entitled to vote in
this election for the reason that reg
istration is a prerequisite to voting,
and a young man who has not regis
tered will not be entitled to vote.
Under the law of this state we
have two independent systems Of reg
istration for voting, one, for gener-
al elections and one for primary cleo
tions. The books to be used in this
election are the books for general
elections, and the fact that ones
name may appear upon the registra-
ton books for primary elections viii
not qualify him as an eleetor in this
election
The encouragement is not author
lied to officially advise in a matter
of this kind and, therefore what is !
said in this letter cannot be regard |
ed as an official expression from this
Office. T. F. West, Atty. Gen.