The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-08-23
RED TAPE MAY
DISFRANCHISE
$4,000 YANKS
Someone Interested in Prevent.
ing Dakota Soldiers from
Voting
ASK LANGER'S OPINION
Attorney General Looking Into
Technical Features of Voting
ASK LANGER'S OPINION

Inc question as to whether l0,OOO
North Dakota electors, fighting for
their country foreign soil, are no.
disenfranchised is now before Attor-
ney General LANCER for an opinion.
Rep. G. A. Reishus of Minot present
ed bill at the special session of leg
islature last January designed to give
our soldiers voice in the govern
ment of their state while they are
away fighting our battles. The league
majority in the house floored the Rel
shus bill and presented a substitute
appropriating large sum of money
to defray the expenses of voting
commission to be named by the gov.
ernor to journey to France, Italy and
other foreign lands in which our
troops are billetted to hold elections.
There was so. much criticism of this
measure that it finally was withdrawn
and another substitute, adhering close
ly to the features Of the original Rel
shus bill was introduced by Patter.
son. After much amendments this bill
finally passed.
It makes it the duty of the county
auditor at least As days before any
general election other than primary,
"of his own accord and without appli-
cation from any elector, to send such
absent voter ballot to such elector in
the manner provided in Sec. 997 c.
the compiled laws for 1913,' and pro
vides that stamped envelope shall
be enclosed for the return of the bal
lot. The affidavit endorsed on the ab-
sent voter ballot may be made by
the elector before his immediate COM
misisoned commanding officer. 49,
Election this year falls on Novem-
DER 5. and the absent voter ballots
would be mailed not later than Sep.
tember 16 At least 40 days under
the most favorable conditions will De
required to vote and return these bal
lots. In majority Of cases it is be-
lieved so days will be required. ...
The act of the special session OF
1918 provides that if the return EN-
velope containing the soldiers ballot
is received too late to be forwarded
to the proper voting precinct in time
to be canvassed, it shall be retained
Dy the county auditor and canvassed
by the county canvassing board at any
time prior to the meeting of the state
canvassing, board or at any adjourned
meeting of the state convassing board.
where the same has been received by
such auditor. in time to canvass and
transmit the results to the state can
vassing board"
The question, so far as can be learn
ed, concerns the right of the state can
vassing board to- adjourn from day to
day until such time as all or a reason
able percentage of the absent voter
ballots are in. It is believed that the
legislature in passing the act regard
ed such day-to-day adjournment pos
sible. Some one who seems to be in
terested in either assuring the soldiers
their voting privilege or in making
certain that they can he denied it on
a technicality has asked for an opn-
ion. The attorney generals office has
not to date announced it's ruling on
the matter.
|. There are approximately 25,00O
North Dakota boys now in service, and
a ma ajority of them are fighting on for
,eign SOIL They represent in the neigh
borhood of II per cent of the electoral
strength of the state ,and their vote,
in the present contest in North Da-
kota, would be sufficient to decide 40
issue, were it to go preponderantly
one way or the other.