Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-11-26
LISTS TO Be SENT OUT
OLCOTT APPRISES CLERKS OF
INTERPRETATION OF LAW.
Amendment at Session of 1915 Is Elk.
planned by Attorney General.
Blanks Sent Out.

The secretary of state is still au-
thorized by law to furnish voters
list, constituting poll books, to the
county clerks, according to an opin-
ion that has been handed down by
Attorney General Brown. Both Sec
retary Of State Olcott and many OF
the county clerks Of the state were
in doubt whether this was necessary
because of amendments to the law at
the last legislature.
Secretary Olcott on November q
met in conference, Miss l. M. Har-
t.ington, clerk of Clackamas county
Stacy M Russell, clerk of Lane coun-
ty; Max Gehlhar, clerk of Marion
county, and J. N. Bush, deputy clerk
of Multnomah county, at which all
phases Of the law were considered,
and blank forms for writing up the
alphabetical lists in duplicate OF the
voters in the several voting precincts
in the state were prepared, and when
printed a sufficient number will be
furnished each county clerk for the
requirement of his county. These will
be forwarded before January l.
Secretary Olcott has given this in
formation in letter sent out to all
county clerks in the state and adds
the following:
cit might be added for your infor-
nation that while apparently the pro
visions of chapters 2O9, 225 and 326,
laws of 1915, conflict as to the forms
of poll books and voters lists which
are to be used, the attorney general
has advised that:
"'A general review of all three
statutes under consideration shows
that the intention of the Legislature
in passing chapter 209 was to amend
the manner of making and keeping
poll books, hereafter to be known as
voters lists, and the method of re-
cording the ballots. The intention in
passing chapter 225 was as stated in
the title of said chapters ITO provide
for the registration of voters, and
that is the entire ground covered by
said chapter, including the making
of the voters lists for use by the
Judges and clerks of election. Chap
ter 1926 as already stated, has refer
ence only to the change in the num-
ber of Judges and clerks at election.
"'It is apparent, therefore, that
there is no conflict between any OF
these statutes, and that the provisions
of chapter 209 are to control with
respect to the subject covered by said
chapter, and the provisions Of chapter
225 control with respect to the regis
tration of voters covered by SAID
chapter, and chapter 325 controls
with reference to the number and du-
ties of Judges and clerks of election,
and does not re-enact or amend any
of the provisions Of either of the
earlier chapters.
''On account of the apparently con-
ficting provisions of the several laws
pertaining to voters lists and poll
books (chapter 209, laws 1879, the
registration of voters (chapter 20,
laws 1879, and duties of judges and
clerks of election (chapter 326, laws
1851. this office advised with some
of the county clerks as stated, so that
form of voters list and poll book
best adapted to the requirements OF
all might be furnished. The printing
of these forms will be taken up at an
early date and a few complete copies
furnished you in advance of the reg
ular supply in order that you may
familiarize yourself with the same
n1ior TO the time of their actual use. "