Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-13
SOLDIER VOTE.
Rules for Taking II In Camps Put up
to the States

The official regulations To govern the
taking of the soldier vote in the training
camps in this country and III the American
expedItIonary forces, announced yester-
day by Major General Henry J.. MeCaln.
adJutant general ot the army, impose
virtually the entire burden of the collec-
ton of the votes upon the states and
urge that State collection laws be amended
To conform to the military reRulntiyna.
Although the War Department promises
To render every possible assistance To
election commissions appointed To poll
the soldier vote, the restriction - imposed
that such assistance will be given only
when compatible with the cxipeneies
of the military service and, the reFl.
lations add lin most instances IT will
he impracticable to permit commissions
To take the votes
This restriction, it was explained, Is
necessary To- prevent the confusion which
il is believed would result from the move
mcnts of commissions from all or a ma
joritv of the States. among the soldiers
in Europe If large number OF such
commissions were sent 10 France, War
Department officials said, they would
be oblldeed to travel up and down the
battlcline and necessarily would hamper
military operations
The chief point made by the adIutant
general IN announcing the regulations
was that the States should, as far rs pos
sihlc. amend their election laws governing
the soldier vote to conform with the Nar
Department regulations The military
authorities, it was stated. rcalize the
Importance Of the right Of suffrage of
more than 900 .00u citizens. but theV
hold that only the simplest form Of voting
Is practicable under military conditions
as they exist m France
Under the laws of the States rs thev
now stand IT will he practical Tor only n
few nt the States to Obtain the votes ot
thor citizens III the military service
The Mississippi system, winch permits
voting bv mnil. il i held lends itself
most readily to compliance with the
War Department regulations. but even
in this instance tho regulations provide
that vote letters arr To hs subject 70
military censorship mud are t0 he opened,
just rs other correspondence le
aovsnNMEsr vii. Assist
The regulations follow
First The War Department will nat
he responsible FOR obtaining yetes. bit Will
assist wherever poasihic without interfer-
ing with military duties
{NfHRhtI ~ VIII Ifsl ~. ftA7EfAtAt - IN
the votes 81 soldiers actually engaged ~
MILITARY operations unless thr soldier ran
east his vote hv transmitting ~ executive
ballot through Tie mails rs ordinary core
7pondcnce
"Thirl In no cnse will Tie Nar Depart
mrut furnish 10 Status nr rlerii,u officials
lists 81 persons who havo entered he null
tarv service from such States Neither can
the War Department undertake - for
ward blank ballots ur other election forms
or literature which Enay hr addressed t.
soldiers III service However. when qual-
fed voters ~ certain Stale are known -
10 IN the military service rs nefnpcr@ 81 y
certain organization. hut the 6rigahka-
tlnnal address Is uuknoWn. the Var lpes
parttneut wll furnish such address upon
receipt ~ reaucat therefor from the
state or nn election official thereof
Fourth rhc censorship now imposed
irpun every irtter cnuinR out at France
cnnn, 10 waived ia favor 81 mailed votes
Fifth Where state laws require that
oatla hc administered and certificates
made IN order e. vnlIdatc IT." votes
officers will hc permitted, hut not re
qulred to administer such onths and mike
such certificates. provided ihat tils vii IL
no way interfere with nctlvc military
operations
"SINth Where The State l3ws ree..re
the sending Of election commissioner -
take the soldiers votes the fnllitar7.
authorities viii place ~ the disposal OF
such commissioners every as-istahte ina
IS found compatible With the agenetes "i
the military situation. In most INSTANCES
however. II will bc lmpraetleatie 10 per
mt commissionsr9 to take tie Natfs
Delaware ha, provision fer taking he
soldier vote IN Amerlca buf heeau~e of
ot ~taclcS. II may be lmpossii4ie u 60
that of n, men overseas