The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1920-09-24
ABSENT VOTING LAW IS
CONE OVER BY AN
ATTORNEY
MEASURE EFFECTIVE FOR ALL
QUALIFIED ONES.
At Any Time Within Thirty Days
Preceding General Election Persons
May Apply to County Clerk For
Necessary Ballot and other Papers
For Use Of the Franchise.

Qualified electors of Utah absent
from their homes ut the time Of the
coming general election on Novem.
Der ID, next, may vote in compliance
with the absent voting law enacted by
the last legislature, according to an
opinion given a few days ago by d.
A. Skcen, assistant Salt Lake county
attorney. lie points out that the law
is effective for any and all qualified
voters and that il is not restricted in
its benefits to those away on military
duty ut the time of enactment. "Bv
the action Of the Utah legislature in
1919 Il is made possible for any per-
son to vote, even though absent from
the county and state Of his residence,
declares Attorney Skeen. "This is
the first general election since the law
became effective and IL remains 10 be
seen 10 what extent IL will be used.
"The reason urged originally for
this act was the importance Of per.
uniting the voter who was called into
war service TO exercise his franchise
and this has given a general impress
sion that only soldiers can take adj
vantage of the act The provisions
are general, however ANY voter who
has registered and could vote If with.
IN his election district may, while abb
sent, cast his vote just as effectively.
The expense and loss of time to those
who for any reason have been COM
PEELED 10 take up work outside Of the
county of their residence il thus saved
and their interest in affairs of gov
eminent nt home is in this way main.
tanned by their meeting two simple
requirements. The same protection
and privilege Of the ballot is main
tanned and guarded.
"Thc act provides that at any time
within thirty days preceding a gem
cral election any voter expecting 10
be absent on election day may apply
10 the county clerk of his county for
AN official absent voters ballot, or
anyone absent from the county may
request of the county clerk am appli-
cation for blank ballot, and Il IL
made the duty OF the county clerk To
forward the application. This appli-
cation IN n formal statement of his
expectation 10 be absent on election
day aud his desire 10 vote. II il made
che duty of the county clerk to supply
these forms aud upon receipt of the
formal application 10 mail or give to
the voter AN absent voters ballot
with envelope for mailing. This en-
yclope carries on the back an aft
davit of the voter TO which he can
swear before anyone authorized TO
administer an oath.
"Thc secrecy of the ballot Is main
tanned by the requirement that the Of
ficer must certify that the ballot was
unmarked when filled out by the yot-
or and that it was filled out in his
presence, but IN such a manner that
no one could see the vote. The ballot
is sealed in the officers presence aud
mailed 10 the county clerk, 10 be
marked with the voting district and
delivered 10 the judges of election, to
be opened only AZ the polls on cleo
ton day during open hours by the
judges and then deposited and count
ed IN the regular manner.
by the absent voters act IL is
made possible also for a voter leaving
the county of his election district
within fifteen days before election,
after the ballots are made up, TO make
application 10 the county clerk and
complete his ballot, leaving the com
pleted sealed ballot with the clerk, 10
be- held and counted in the regular
way ON election day,
eft the voter leaves his election
district more than fifteen days prior
10 the election he may make applica-
ton al any time within thirty days
prior Ia the election for a ballot, and
the fifteen days allowed after the
ballots are printed affords ample
time 10 mail out the ballot and as
sures lis return by election day, The
act makes false swearing TO the af-
fidayit perjury and imposes "A pen
atty of a hundred dollars ON any Of
fieer neglecting his duty or swearing
falsely
Clerk Smith at Price has ordered
the necessary ballots for all absent
voters of Carbon county. These are
provided for in the general election
supplies now in the hands of the
printer.