The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1916-08-19

and having satisfied themselves TINT the
initials thereon are the initials Of the
Township Clerk, they shall deposit the
ballot in the regular ballot box to be
counted with the other ballots.
When Absent Voter Returning, can
Vote in Person.
No absent voter returning to his place
of residence, will be prohibited from
voting in person within his precinct,
notwithstanding that he may have made
application for an absent voters ballot
or ballots and the same may have been
mailed by the said clerk Provided.
that such voter has not availed himself
of the privilege of an absent voter, as
provided by this act, and voted ballot
or ballots mailed him by the said clerk,
and provided he return such ballot, or
ballots, if received, to the board by
whom same shall be marked Cancelled"
and placed in the regular ballots boxes
with other ballots.
Does Not Apply to Michigan National
Guard under Present Conditions.
1t is certainly greatly to be regretted
that the Absent Voters Law is not
comprehensive enough to permit the
members of the Michigan National
Guard to vote under its provisions. as
will be noted by the following opinion
Of Hon. Grant Fellows, Attorney Gen.
eral of Michigan, given to Howard L.
Campbell, prosecuting attorney of
Manistee County:-
Dear Strive are in receipt of yours
of the 7th inst, requesting our opinion
as to whether members of the Mich
igan National Guard. who are now
modified, will be entitled to vote if
absent from their resrective places of
residence by virtue of the provisions of
Act 27O of the Public Aces of 1915.
In reply, Section1 of said Act defines
"absent voter" to be ''any elector in
the actual military service Of the United
States or of this State, or in the army
or navy thereof, in time of war, in
surrection or rebellion ="
Section of Article III of the Con-
stitution of the State of Michigan, as
amended, provides in part, "that no
qualified elector in the actual military
service of the United States or of this
State, or in the army or navy thereof,
in time of war. insurrection or rebel
lion shall be deprived of his
vote by reason of his absence from the
Township, Ward or State in which he
resides"
The Michigan National Guard has
been modified and has been sworn in
to the service of the United States, and
a portion of the Guard is now without
the borders of the State of Michigan.
! am of the opinion that the terms Of
the Act in question would not, at the
present time, apply so as to permit the
members of the Michigan National
Guard or Michigan Volunteers to par
ticipate in elections as absent voters
for the reason that the absent electors,
although in the actual military service
Of the United States are not in such
service Sin time of war, insurrection
or rebellion" inasmuch as none OF
these conditions obtain at the present
time. 1t may be very possible. OF
course, that this condition will change
before an election is held in this State
and If at any time a state of war ex.
lists the absent electors who are in the
service of the United States or this
State, either in the army or navy
thereof, will be entitled to cast then
ballot under the provisions of this Act.
! Very respectfully yours,
! (Signed) Grant Fellows,
Attorney General.
Dated the 4th day of August, A. D.
1916.
OCTAVE SEAvoY,
Clerk of the Township of L'Anse,
County of Baraga. State of Miehi.
gan.
NY office is located at L'Anse, in said
Township. My p. o. Address ID
L'Anse, Michigan.