Arizona republican., 1918-07-15
VOTER ID STAY AS REGISTERED
 FUR TWO YEARS
Citizen Who Declared Poli- tical Affiliation By Reg
 istration Cannot Change Party At Will Says Laney

The voter who declared his party utilization at the time of his registra- ton will have to stand pat for the next two years whether he wants to do so or not. In the past, many voters after registering, for one reason or another, have asked to have their registration cancelled in order that they may go into the primary of the other party, and that has generally been allowed until this year.
 But County Recorder Vaughn did not believe that there was any au- thority in law for allowing such changes to be made, though the law authorizes changes and cancellations for other specified purposes. Accord ingly he addressed a letter of inquiry 10 County Attorney Laney who in the following reply confirmed the view of the recorder:
 Section 2SS5, Revised Statutes of Arizona, 1913 Civil Code as amended provides that the registering officer shall inquire of the elector and enter among other things the political party utilization of the elector; and also the registration blank set forth in Section 2SS2 id. as also amended, provides space for entering the party affilia- tion. The statutes in no place make any provision for the changing of pol- tical party designation upon the reg istration records
 Case in Point
 "A search of some thoroughness has disclosed but one case squarely in point, to wit: State ex rel. Thatcher versus Keith decided by the supreme court of Nevada in 1914. and reported in 142 Pac.. 532. In this case it is held that since the powers and duties of an election registry agent are purely stat utory, and since the statutes of Ne Nada contain no provision authorizing the registry agent on the application of a registered elector to change the political designation of that elector as registered, an elector who has regis tered 10 vote in a primary election. designating for registry his political party, cannot require the registry agent to change the recorded designa- lion of political utilization. The court caused the issuance of a writ prohib- iting the registry officer from chang ing the political designation of electors registered for the primary election. In the course of the opinion the court argues that although this rule may conceivably operate with hardship in the case of a genuine change of poli- tical faith before the primary, such a situation would seldom arise. and if it should arise, the right of an elector to change his political opinions must give way in any particular election before the salutary policy of preventing abuses which would spring from a rule allowing such a change
 See also note on the subject: Change by Voter of Enrolment o1 Registration.' Ann Cases. 1917 A, 127S
 No Legal Way
 Tt might be argued that Sectior 2s99 Civil Code of Arizona. 1913. pro. Niding that any person may proceed by court action to compel the recorder to cancel any entry made on the reg. lister which ought to be cancelled bj reason of facts that have occurred subsequent to the time of such entry is authority for the cancellation of ( registration, merely for the purpose O. the elector re-registering under a diff ferent party utilization. This section however no doubt refers to Sectior 2S97, which section prescribes tn, cases in which the recorder shall can eel registrations. but fails to namt that in which the elector merely de sires to change his registered politica utilization.
 Accordingly, since as above men tioned, the law relative to the regis traitor of electors is purely statutory and since the statues of the state o Arizona make no provision for tn change of political party utilization once designated, I am of opinion tha there is no legal way in which sue changes upon the registration record may be effected"