Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1917-08-09
VOTES FOR !
THE SOLDIERS
The Chamber of Commerce
Takes Up Matter.
POLITICS IN ARMY
Urge That the Soldiers and Sail
OrS in the War Should
Have Vote.

Newark, August THE investiga-
tlons of the New Jersey State Cham
Der of Commerce into the operation
of the election laws of this State have
revealed the fact that under certain
circumstances these laws are made
quate to guarantee to a New JERSEY
soldier and sailor who may be far
from his election district. the right
Of franchise.
Article II of the State Constitution
provides that "in time of war no cleo
tor in the actual military service of
the State or of the United States in
the army or navy thereof shall be de-
prived of his vote by reason of his
absence from such election district"
1t also states that "the legislature
shall have power to provide the man
ner in which and the time and place
at which such absent electors may
vote Legislation along these lines
IS contained in sections 220 to 233 of
an Act to Regulate Elections, Revi-
sion of 1898.
The law provides that an absentee
soldier or sailor not more than 60
days before any general, special or
local election may prepare one affi-
davit establishing his right to vote
at such election (222) and another
designating some other qualified vot-
er Of his election district to deposit
his ballot for him in the ballot box
on election day (221, 224).
Section 232 authorizes and REQUIRES
the Secretary of State to prepare at
the expense of the State blank forms,
omcial envelopes, etc., which are me-
cessary for carrying out the .provi-
sions of the law, and "at least ons
month previous to any general, spe-
clal or local election case such blank
forms and envelopes" etc., to be for
warded to the places where the alb
sentee soldiers and sailors are locat-
ed.
Not a word is said specifically
about getting information to the abb
sentee soldiers and sailors regarding
the candidates for office or the ques-
tions of policy which are to be decid-
ed upon. Indeed, even if such pro-
vision were made, it would be i'm
possible to communicate this infor-
nation as easily as thirty days before
election, because not until thirteen
days before election does the official
ballot take its final form. At the gen
eral election, for instance, nominees
by petition can be added to the bal
lot as late as Is days before election,
(Sec. 42) while vacancies cause by
the resignation or death of candi-
dates may be filled UP until 13 days
before election. Sec. At, 317.))
When it is realized that the cleo
tor designated by the absentee SOL
der or sailor must cast the ballot of
such absentee on election day (225,
227, 228) it can be seen that thirteen
days is not ample enough to insure to
military men their right of franchise.
Is it conceivable that soldier at the
front in France, Russia or Greece. or
a sailor on the North Sea or the Medi-
terranean even if the law, required
some official to notify him within thir-
teen days before election by cable or
wireless message of the official bal
lot, could prepare his ballot (unoffi-
clal as it would>have to be and deliv-
er it by mail, or otherwise, to his
substitute in time to be voted on cleo
ton day.
Nor is this all. A strict and literal
Interpretation of the law restricts alb
sentees voting to qualified voters in
time of war Gin the actual military
service of this Statet or of the United
States in the army or navy thereof,
by the authority of this State or un-
der requisition from the President
of the United States" Would not the
creation of aviation as distinct
branch of the service disfranchise those
enlisted in it? Does not the law fail
to provide the vote for those citizens
of New Jersey who on election day
may be absent from the State Loyalty
serving their country on war commits
sions. or in shipbuilding yards, NUM-
ton factories and agricultural work?
Shall the electors who in these