Smyrna times., 1922-12-06

The Milford Chronicle makes an
earnest plea for a revision of our
State Registration laws at the COM
ing session of the Legislature. 1t rec
ommends: "a permanent registration,
which would be automatically revised
by causing all names of those who
failed to vote at the general elections
to be struck from the registration
lists, must be provided. 1t must also
provide that those who come of age
to vote, or who move into the State
or district, or acquire legal eligibility
to vote, shall be added to the registra-
tion books of qualified voters; but,
there must not be any bar against
those who failed to vote regaining a
place on the books of registered vot-
ers by reason of their failure to vote
at the preceding elections-on the con-
trary, they must have this privilege
to regain their rights, by making
new personal registration in a legal
manner"
The Milford Chronicle further rec
Ommends a change in the Primary
Election law which would require the
primary elections of all political par
ties to be held on the same day and at
the same places, in order to guard
against voters of one political party
voting at the primary election of other
parties, or at any two of the primar-
les which it claims is done at present.
But the present Primary Election
law" comments the Wilmington Every
Evening, guards against this prac-
tice by imposing severe penalties of
fine and Imprisonment upon any per-
son who may vote at the primary
election of more than one political
party. This provision is regarded as
one OF its chief assurances in making
a primary election a true expression
of the will of party's voters. True,
Republican may vote at Democra-
tic primary, or vice versa, on giving
pledge to support the successful NOM
lnee or nominees, but such instances
are rare under the system that has
been so successfully established by
our Primary Election law, which is
admittedly the best and sanest in the
country.
However the suggestions of the
Milford Chronicle" says the Every
Evening, "may be regarded, there is
lCOm for the contention that some
changes might be made in our Elec-
tion and Registration laws that would
also reduce the cost of administration,
which is very large. There are many
who believe that three days of regis
tration-the first two to provide for
qualification for voting at primary
elections-would be sufficient, and the
change surely would make large re-
ductiOn in the cost. Also, there is
soundness in the suggestion that
school houses and other public build
ings should be utilized as largely as
possible for registration and voting
places, thus saving a considerable sum
now paid in rentals of private prop
erty. And while there is just demand
for a division of some of the most
populous rural districts, where the
total registrations exceed a thousand,
Lhere is room Tor the contention that
the 125 districts into which Whining
ton is divided might be reduced to
about hundred without imposing any
hardships on our citizens. AS to a
permanent registration system, there
is suggested in the fact that it has
been employed in Maryland for years
with success. We have here some in
teresting matters of consideration.
But whatever else may be done, it will