The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-14

voters of the entire county! CSss
Constitution, section l1o. Virginia
code. l904. section 92.) The names
OF the candidates for Commissioners
OF Revenue must be printed on the
primary ballots tor tbs entire county
unless the county COMMITTEES should
pass rule conhnlng the vote 10 this
districts IN which the candidate Ii to
serve. such a party rule would be
valid under sections Z and OF the
primary act,
y. Candidates for Senate and House,
representing districts, must nave ON
their petitions nifty qualified voters Of
their own county.
In the case OF candidates for the
Senate or House OF Delegates, rep
resenting districts containing more
than one county or city, the qualified
voters on the petition cannot be taken
from tho severa! counties or cities,
but all the petitioners must be quail
ned voters of the candidates city or
county.
y. Party committees may be elect
ed at primaries.
The primary act plainly reserves to
party authorities all powers over pri-
mary elections not specifically taken
away from the parry authorities by
the act itself. tSection ~ Hence 1t
is competent for the party committees
10 order printed on the primary ball
lots the names of candidates for party
committees. but the act (Which re-
fers only to nominations for public
ottlce) does not require such candi-
dates to file any declaration or Pc
t1ion or to pay any fee, though party
committees may make such or similar
requirements.
40. Can qualified voter sign tho
petitions of more than one candidate
Tor the same office:
The validity OF signature on y
petition is not affected by the fact
that the same signature appears on
the petition OF another candidate for
the same office. Whether a voter may
sign To two such petitions Is a ques-
ton of propriety and not of law.
II. Who may vote ut August pri-
mary, 1915.
All persons qualified to vote at the
election for which the primary -
held may vote at the primary
ta) Except no person shan vote for
candidates Of more than one party:
and
(bl Except no person shall vote in
the primary OF August. 1915, for the
candidates OF any party unless at tho
Congressional election. held in Mo-
vemher, 1914. he voted for the nom-
inee of that party. but If he did not
vote at the November election. 1914.
then he shall be allowed To vote upon
HIS declaration that he will support.
at the next November election. this
nominees OF the party III whose pri-
mary he wishes to vote; and
(c) Except those persons who are
disqualified by reason of other re-
quirements in the law of the party TO
which he belongs Thus the primary
law recognizes tho right OF a. party
to prescribe any qualifications tor
voting at primaries. provided such
qualifications are not in conflict with
the statute. but under section 30 OF
the Constitution no party regulation
nor statute can permit "A person TO
vote at a primary who is not at the
time registered and qualified to vote
at the next succeeding election.
The test of mans right under
subsection b OF section TO vote in
the primary of party. is whether he
voted for the party's nominee at the
last preceding general election. II Is.
therefore, immaterial at the August
primary. 1915, whether the person
offering to vote vote the party ticket
in the presidential election of 1919.
or In the gubernatorial election OF
1918. The only question is how he
voted in the congressional election OF
1874. but if he did not vote at that
election. he may vote in August. upon
his declaration as above set out.
To illustrate: II man voted
against the Dem ocratic nominee for
Congress in November. 1914. he can,
under no circumstances, vote in the
Democratic primary August 1915; but
II he voted against the Democrats
nominee in the presidential election.
1912. or against the Democratic
nominee In the gubernatoriai election.
1918, but voted for the Democratic
nominee in the congressional election
of November, 1914. the party law may
permit him TO vote in the Democratic
primary Of August g. hut IL he failed
TO vote in said congressional election.
The shall be allowed 10 vote" at tho
said primary upon his declaration
that he will support the party nomi.
nee, etc.
IL. Expenditures of candidates.
1t is not lawful under the pro-
visions of the primary act for candi.
date to pay persons for obtaining sig
natures to his petition for candidacy,
and 1t Is also unlawful for any candi-
date to hire vehicles TO convey voters
to the polls on election day. Under
section II. dealing with expenses Of
candidates. all expenditures are pro-
hibited except those which are ex-
pressly permitted.
IL. Entrance fees Of candidates.
The entrance fees for the August,
1915, primary. REQUIRED by section
24-a. must he paid To the treasurer Of
the candidates county or city but
where the candidates district In
comprised OF more than one county,
the fee must be equally divided
among the counties IN the district.