The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-23
RULING ON new
SOLDIER VOTING
ACT IS ASKED
Question Of Measure s
.Workability Before At
torney General

Bismarck, N. D.. Aug. 23.-The
question as to whether $4,000 North
Dakota electors, fighting for their
country on foreign soil, are not dis
enfranchised is now before Attorney
General LANCER for an opinion. Rep.
G. A. Reishus Of Minot presented a.
bill at the special session of legis-
lature last January designed to give
our soldiers q voice in the govern
ment Of their state while they are
away fighting our battles. The
league majority in the house floored
the Reishus bill and presented a
substitute appropriating large
sum of money to defray the expenses
Of a voting commission to be named
by the governor 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 1t
finally was withdrawn and another
substitute, adhertng closely to the
features Of the original Reishus bill,
was introduced by Patterson. After
much amendment this bill finally
passed.
Must Mail Ballots.
1t makes 1t the duty of the coun-
ty auditor at least As days before
any general election other than
primary, "of his own accord and
without application from any cleo
tor, to send such absent voter bal
dot to such elector in the manner
provided in Section 997 of the COM
piled laws for 1872 and provides
that a stamped envelope shall be en-
closed for the return Of The ballot.
The affidavit endorsed on the absent
h11 hn hTy hn
elector before his immediate COM
missioned commanding officer.
Election this year falls on Nov
ember 5 and the absent voter ballots
would be mailed not later than
September 49, At least 40 days I'M
der the most favorable conditions
will be required to vote and return
these ballots. In a majority OF
cases it is believed sixty days will
be required
Canvassers Open Ballots.
The act of the special session Of
| 1918 provides that If the return en-
velope containing the soldiers bal
lot Is received too late to be for
warded to the proper voting precinct
in time to be canvassed, 1t shall be
retained by the county auditor and
canvassed by the county canvassing
board at any time prior to the meet
ing of the state canvassing board or
at any adjourned meeting OF the
state canvassing board, where the
same has been received by such
auditor in time to canvass and
transmit the results to the state
canvassing board"
The question so fas as can be
learned, concerns the right Of the
state canvassing board to adjourn
from day to day until such time as
all or q reasonable. percentage of
the absent voter ballots are in. 1t
is believed that the legislature In
passing the act regarded such day
to-day adjournment possible. Some
one who seems to be interested in
either assuring the soldiers their
voting privileges or in making Ger
tain that they can be denied it on
techaicality has asked for an opin-
ion. The attorney generals Office
has not to date announced it's
ruling on the matter.
$1,000 Men in Service,
There are approximately $4,000
North Dakota men now in service,
and a majority Of them are fighting
on foreign soil They represent in
the neiEhborhood of II per cent Of
the electoral strength Of the state,
and their vote. in the present con-
test in North Dakota. would be guf-
ftcient to decide the issue. were It
to go preponderantly one way or the
other.