Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-05
MACHINERY IS
0VERTAxED BY NEW VOTE
Unable to Cast Ballots
.rs,is Because of Laws In
4. adequacy.
BOARDS PROBLEM
Unless Statute Can BE Circum-
vented to Increase Voting l'acili-
tics, Full Vote of City Cannot
Be Pollcd November 2.

The Richmond City Electoral Board
rs. confronted by serious problem
growing out of the extraordinary en-
nansion, of the polling list. The
$4,000. According to the most COM
petent authorities. mon of long eX-
perlence in handling election returns.
II, is a physical impossibiiity 10 poll
the large registered vote on election
day. November ?. unless radica /
changes are made in the electoral
system provided by law.
Central Register woodson's atten-
ton was first directed 10 the In-
satisfactory conditions yesterday
candidates for City Treasurer, called
ut his office. MIR. Hirschbcrg desired
Information on the returns from the
heavy registration Of last Saturday.
reports from many OF the registrars
and can give only estimates. Scan
tsing the records, however. he OBJ
served that the largest registration
OF women is in Lee Ward and the
smallest in jefferson.
lie discovered that in one precinct.
Frat Lee. about COO women are reg
Istored. Added to 900 male registra
TONS already on the books this gives
a total of 500 votes to that precinct.
Mr.. HirschberG remarked that the
ilmc between sunrise and sunset on
election day for polling the vote IL
G2S minutes. He asserted, and the
registrar agreed with him, that ii
would be a physical impossibility to
cast more than che vote Il minute.
Registrar Woodson suggested that
the situation might be relieved to
some extent by having two windows
Instead Of one for receiving the bal
lots. He said he would recommend
to the Electoral Board that one win
dow he operated for women ex
than two windows cannot lie opened
for the reason that the number OF
fixed by an act Of Assembly. Even with
this change in the system OF con-
Quoting the election. however. it is
Impossible, the election officers say,
rs 1,50o ballots in n single day. The
problem is up 10 the Electoral Board
to solve.
Uptown Wards Give Concern.
In Jefferson Ward and in precincts
in other wards where the rcsis;ra-
Clay Wards, the plan suggested by
Registrar Woodson will work out
It is conceded. hut in
the uptown wards il is evident that
unable TO cast their ballots on No
Ncmbcr 2, unless some scheme is de-
vised to meet the emergency.
Registrar Woodson has before
MN many thousands or applications.
received, and approved last week
which are yet to be carried forward
TO the polling books. lie will be
kept busy every day until The end
OF October entering the names on the
polling books OF the thirty-on pre-
cinctS.
Deputy Registrar Garland Tarlor.
WHO enrolled the bulk OF the negro
woman vote, has received a pretty
testimonial from group OF leaders
"A In - 4 ~.
u came in the form OF a monster
6ouquet OF American Beauty and La
France roses. which was sent to the
deputy registrar at his home. A
card attached conveyed the conp!i-
mcnts OF the wife OF Rev. w. II.
stokes and others and EXPRESSED
grateful appreciation for the fair
and impartial treatment accorded the
colored women of Richmond" hy MIR.
Taylor in his capacity as deputy reg
iStrar