Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-30
CLAUDE L. ROTH
On the State Election Laws

NNE Of the chief causes Of the indifference
" of the average citizen to participation
in politics is the complexty OF the election
laws, according to Claude l.. Roth, solicitor
to the Sheriff. who has made special study
Of these laws. w.,
1T cannot be denied" said Mr.. Roth.
"that these laws are difficult for the ord-
nary citizen to understand. AT every ses-
sion Of the Legislature various bills TO
amend these laws are introduced, and these
proposed measures may generally be divided
into two classes: first, those intended TO
simplify the procedure for practical pur-
poses, and, second, those to prevent or
furnish new varieties Of fraud or irregularl-
ties.
posed to additional regulations first, because
we now have more than can be strictly en-
forced, and, second, because the existing
regulations tend to increase the expenses
of the organization. On the other hand. the
existing safeguards because they feel that
the evils they are intended to prevent would
become greater.
'.Between the two sides very few radical
changes have been made In the election laws
since the Uniform Primaries and the Per-
sonal Registration Acts Of 1905 were passed,
except that essential details were changed
in succeeding Legislatures until they were
re-enacted In revised form In 1913 and
again in 1919 to conform to changed con.
Both Sides Oppose Change
"porbana the greatest single cause Of dis
faction IS the requirement that every
voter shall be re-registered annually. ana
that In cities of the first, second ana thlrd
classes registration can only be made on the
personal application Of the voter. except IN
q few special cases.
Numerous plans have been suggested to
mnke registration automatically renewable
On long as there Is no change OF residence,
hut Mi such plans have been objected to on
the ground that the State Constitution re-
ouires that if twenty-five years or age or
rrnwnrd. the voter must have paid within
tn" venrs a State or county tax which shall
bave been assessed at least two months and
nnid at least one month before the election
and that there Is no practical way IN the
cities 70 ascertain this without compelling
the voter to exhibit proper TAX receipt 10
snms ofFcial authorized to register the voters
ANNUALLY, because such tax may be upon
raoi estate occupation, poll tax or on
mortgages, and there Is no uniformity with
naoorI IN the collection Of these throughout
the State.
Removing the Tax Qualification
..1t seems impossible to obtain relief from
tbo burdens imposed upon citizenship until
the constitutional requirement OF tax payment
nv mS,s can only be done by constitutional
a,rondment. which must be passed by two
n.ocaesve sessions of the Legislature and
onnroved Mt the polls, thus taking about five
years to consummate.
.,A,tboueh such plan has been advocated
=. MANY prominent persons and bills have
~ " Introduced for that purpose, 1t has
nevar met with general approval, probably
bacause tho elimination OF the assessors list
- taynbles would necessitate drastic changes
"a u, ntber laws having no direct connection
I III aIactions. such as those regulating the
tnru system and in Philadelphia the appor-
;tinnmcnt Of Councilmen, both OF which are
hosod unon the assessors list OF taxabes.
.nTbe worst feature OF the law requiring
., nayment is that the tax must have been
aa"ossed at least two months before the cleo
ton This period usually expires before any
~ the personal registration days IN any of
the cities occurs. and then II a citizen who
cnnsidered himself qualified elector, but
',hn does not have real estate or mortgages
;n b;s own name upon which taxes have been
nssassed against him, finds that his name
taa heen omitted from the assessors lists OF
toTahIes In the district in which he lives, he
has M way OF qualifying himself to register
nnIess he has a poll tax receipt from the
nreyious year or can persuade some court to
sdd his name to the assessors lists at least
one month before the election.
"rhe law granting this was passed to aid
him In such situation, but the act has
heen held to be unconstitutional except In
cases where an assessor, upon personal ap-
nIication Of the citizen, had willfully refused
tn nlace his name upon the assessors lists
more than two months before the election
"The Constitution Of 1900 required pay
ment of a State or county tax assessed al
least six months before the election as a
and the Supreme Court, In 1915, decided