The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-26
NEW REGISTRATION
IAWEFFECTIVE FEB26
Many Important Changes
yeBeen Made in Old
Statute.
leBy Associated Presso

4 lAN .NAAl0GAat1u AAEaHl
CFiARLEsToN. W. Va. Feb. 90
The changes made by the West Vir.
sinia Legislature in extraordinary SEES.
aiop last November in the law relating
10 the registration of voters, are mum.
srous and important. The new law
goes into effect next Monday. The
first change from old to new statute is
the provision that the county court OF
each county shall hold regular OF
special session on the second Monday
in August OF the year OF the general
election In which president of the
United States is to he elected, instead
% the first Monday in March, next be.
fore such election, for the purpose of
appointing registrars.
The present registration law directs
thatno one who has been convicted OF
q felony may become a registrar, and
the new law adds "or who holds any
elective or appointiye office, or any
employee under the laws of the state
u West Virginia, or the United
States
I'M prescribing the duties of the reg
tstrar the new law provides penalty
for registrars violating the require
nents OF their position. This penalty
Of fine OF not less than fifty dollars
and confinement in the county jail
not less than thirty days
N addition to the requirements OF
The county clerk in relation to the reg
istrars, as fixed by the old statutes.
the new directs that he shall send to
the chairman of the county executive
committee Of the party from which the
regtstrars are selected copy of the
notice sent 10 the registrars telling
the name of the registrar of the other
party IN his district The clerk is re
quired TO deliver to the registrars the
registration books on or before the
third Monday in August, OF general
election years and third Monday in
May In other election years.
Under. the new law appeal from the
county court which makes revision of
the registration list may be taken to
the circuit court, and from the circuit
colirt to the supreme court. For viola
ton of the law in connection with the
registration the registrars shall be
fined not less than fifty dollars and
confined in jail not less than thirty
days.
Changes are made in the list of
questions the registrars may ask of
any voters whose qualifications as
voter are in doubt. The time for the
county court to sit preceding the hold
ing of primary election or general cleo
tion Is prescribed and it is directed
that these courts shall, at least twenty
days before any general election. trans
init or cause to be transmitted to the
registrars, the revised registration
lists; the registrars may then further
amend and correct their lists, and sit
together at some convenient place in
the voting precinct two days. begin.
ming on the third Monday next prior
10 the election, at which time the reg
istration books shall be open for in
spection by the public and the regis.
trars shall register all voters who
HIVE not been registered.
The county court is also required to
be In session the Tuesday before any
general election, for the purpose of
adding to the list OF voteres who have
not been registered.
The county court is also required TO
he In session the Tuesday before any
general election for the purpose of
AuuIlB 70 luS llSI OIL NOlSlS inc NAMES
Of ami. persons who may appear in per
som which have been omitted by the
registrars.
In the new law limit is fixed for
etime In which the registrar or coun-
~ clerk, may issue Certificate of
change OF residence before election by
amy voter. This certificate shall not
he issued later than Saturday before
the election.
Under the new law the registration
books shall be destroyed by fire one
year IRON, the date of the general cleo
ton.