The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-06-22
HOW SOLDIER
MAY CAST VOTE

There has been much inquiry
coming not only from candidate!
but from the voters as well, as tc
the possibility of soldiers voting il
the coming primary election. The
attorney-general, in response to the
many inquiries, has caused to be
prepared a statement of what is nee
essary for the soldier to do to cast
his ballot on election day and he has
sent a copy of this to A. J. Hardy
county attorney, with a request that
it be published. The last legisla-
ture in enacting the law saw fit tc
make so complicated the machinery
to put it into effect that it is doubt
full if it will be resorted to to any
great extent. AS to soldiers great
distance from home, across the seas
for instance, ballots could not be
sent them until the last day for fl
ing that it may be learned what
names go on the tickets, and then
the ballots could not be sent and
returned within the time interven-
ing between that date and the day OF
election. The attorney general
statement follows:
Attorney Generals Statement.
| have received numerous re-
quests concerning the ability OF
electors absent in the military serv-
ice of the state, to vote in their sew
eral districts at primary or special
elections.
The last legislature enacted a
comprehensive statute on the sub
iect, providing that such absent
electors may vote at any election
and for such candidates as they
could have voted for if present in
.heir precincts on election day. The
method and machinery provided by
the Legislature must be strictly COM
piled with, and your attention it
called to the following rules which
must be observed in order that the
absent soldiers vote may be cast
and counted.
First: Such absent elector must,
by instrument in writing, empower
some elector OF the election precinct
in which the absent elector resides,
to cast for him his ballot on the day
of said election. This instrument
must be signed by the absent SOL
der elector, attested by two sub
scribing witnesses, and sworn to be-
fore any field officer, captain, adju-
tant or commander of any regiment,
company, battalion or detachment
10 which said absent elector may be-
long. This affidavit, together with
a proper envelope, will be sent by
the secretary of state of the state of
Oklahoma to the various regiments
from this state at the various cam
tonments within the limits Of the
United States.
Second: The absent soldier cleo
tor must prepare and fold the bal
lot he desires 10 case, and enclose
the same, together with the instru-
ment empowering some elector to
cast his ballot for him, in an en-
velope properly sealed, on the out
side OF which must appear the affi-
davit, which will be sent by the sec
retray of state as above stated. This
envelope must be enclosed in an
other envelope marked "SoltieAs
Vote" sealed and directed to the
elector empowered TO cast his bal
lot. and then transmit the same to
said elector so empowered to cast
his ballot.
TiHtd: Electors within this state
receiving said ballots may open the
outer envelope, but he must not
open the inner envelope. On cleo
ton day he must deliver the inner
envelope to the inspector OF cleo
tions of the proper election precinct.
at the polls thereof. and the inner
envelope must be publicly opened
by the judge of said election, and
the vote or ballot therein contained
shall be duly opened. deposited in
the box prepared TO receive the bal
lots of voters, and the name of the
absent elector entered upon the poll
list, together with the name of the
person delivering the ballot at the
polls. No envelope containing such
ballot shal be opened by the judge
OF the election unless the name OF
the person signing the affidavit on
the outside of the envelope shall be
found upon the registry list OF the
precinct where such person claims
TO reside, or unless affidavit be made
by a voter of the precinct to the eff
feet that he knows said person
sad person whose vote is so offered.
Is a resident of said district.
Caution: No ballot NAV be cats
from any envelope which shall have
been opened or unsealed before the
same Is delivered to the inspector of
elections.
Fourth: The resident elector Of
ieriSg any envelope containing a.