The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-06-23
Under Laws of Oklahoma One Can Not
Register and Vote in Primary as a
Member Of One Party and Change His
Political Faith in the General Election

OkldnOIIla Clty, Julle 90 lIe ueIiio-
cratic state committee, of Oklahoma,
In the interests of pure politics and
honesty in voting, has appealed to the
state election board. which in turn
appealed to the attorney general OF
the state. relative to the enforcement
OF the existing election laws.
The attorney generals office hands
down the opinion to the effect that
and after having voted as member
Ct that party in the primary, re-reg.
lister az q member Of another party
and cast his vote az member Of that
second party.
II man registers as democrat
and votes as a democrat in the pri.
mary. he cannot change his registra.
tIon, declaring himself either repub'
lican or a socialist, until 80 days next
before the following primary election.
The opinion from the attorney gen.
erals office follows:
I'VE have received great many
inquiries from over the state as TO
whether or not voter had a right
to change his registration certificate
so that he will be able to vote or af-
filiate with another political party
other than in which he has been vot-
ing and registering.
1--WE have taken this matter up with
the state election board, who has OBJ
tained an opinion from the attorney
general of the state Of Oklahoma,
,rltol, rnota fO11nuc.
Section s, Of the General Registra-
ton Law provides:
THAT no change in registration
shall be granted on the ground OF
change of politics. unless application
therefor be made at least 90 days be-
fore the next succeeding general pri-
mary election
1.-The provision of Section s, supra,
to the effect that no change OF regis
.ration shall be granted on the ground
OF change OF politics unless applied
for Mt least 80 days before the next
election is mandatory and has no
exceptions
"'Secticn 13 Of said Act is as fol-
lows
"'No elector shall. at any primary
election held in this state. vote the
ballot Of any political party of which
he Ia not member, or with which ne
does not affiliate, and at any such
primary election any elector may be
challenged on that ground. and when
so challenged no such eiector shall be
permitted 10 vote at any such pri-
mary election unless and until he
shall first subscribe and swear TO
an oath that he is member OF. and
does affiliate with the political party
I'm whose primary election he seeks TO
vote. All such affidavlts shall be
returned by the precinct election Of
flcers 70 the county election board
along with the election returns.
"Manifestly no provision is therein
made for the purpose Of enabling any
one to vote otherwise than as men,
Der and an affiliate of the party In
which registered. Such proposed vot-
er cannot. by making the affidavit
therein mentioned, vote otherwise than
registered The challenge contempat'
cd in said section goes to the question
OF the voter having fraudulertly reg
istered as member of one party. when
in fact, such voter Is openly and
notoriously q member and affiliate OF
another party The challenge goes TO
the good faith of the registration, and
when such good faith Is questioned
on the ground that the holder of the
certificate is not a member OF. or does
not affiliate with the political party
with which identified by the regis
tration certificate. then the proposed
voter Is required to make the oath
mentioned before he receives ballot
in accordance with his registration. In
other words. without the affidavit
so exacted, such voter cannot vote
in the party in which registered
should the voter fail or refuse to
make that affidavit after challenged;
ne would not be entitled to vote in the
marty OF his registration, nor could
hc vote in any other party. Said afti'
dnvit is therefore made TO enable an
e,ector to vote as registered and not
in any manner to change his regis
tra.ion certificate, his politics nor his
residence"
The above is signed by r. F.. Wood
assistant attorney general of the state
of Oklahoma, on behalf of the attor'
rey general.