Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-12-02
OUR REGISTRATION LAWS.

inc Miuotu tnronicit tnahes Nn
ear est plea for revision of our |
State Registration laws at the COM
ing session OF the Legislature. II rec
Vmmcnds:
"a permanent registration. which
would he automatically revised by
causing all names of those who
failed to vote at the general cleo
tions to bc struck from the regis
tration lists, must be provided. II
must also provide that those who
come Of age 20 vote. or who move
into the State or district. or ac-
auire legal eligibility TO vote. shall
be added 20 the registration 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 voters by
reason Of their failure TO vote at
the preceding eiections-on the
contrary. they must have this
privilege 20 regain their rights, by
making a new personal registra-'
tion in legal manner"
Tn. Milford Chronicle further rec
ommcnds change in the Primary
Election law which would require the
primary elections Of all political par
ties 90 bc held on the same day and at
the same places. in order 20 guard
against voters Of one political party
voting AZ the primary election OF other
parties. or a, any two Of the primaries
which II elairns Is done at present.
Eut the present Primary Election law
Sgards against this practice by i'm
posing severe penalties OF fine and i'm
rrisonmen; upon any person who may
vote az the primary election OF more
than one political party. This pro-
vision ia regarded as one OF It's chief
assurances in making a primary cleo
ton a true expression OF the VIII OF
partys voters. True. a Republican
may vote al a Democratic primary
or vice versa. on giving pledge 10 sup
port the successful nominee or nomi-
nees but such instances are rare
under the system that has been 81
successfully established by our Pri.
mary Election law, which is admitted!
the les, and sanes, in the country.
However the suggestions OF the Nil
ford Chronicle may be regarded, ther'
b. room for the contention that SOM
changes might be made in our Elec
tiun and Registration laws that wouli
increase their efficiency and materi
ally reduce the cost Of administration
which il very large. There are man
who believe that three days OF regis
tration-the frs; two 20 provide 10
Qualification for voting at primar
elcctions-vould be sufficient. and IN
change surely would make a large re
Guction In the cost. Also. there
A. 49,. -
school houses and other public build
inrs should be utilized as largely g
possible for registration and votin
places. thus saving a considerable SUI
now paid IN rentals % private prof
.rty. And while there Is just demar
for a division % some OF the mo
populous rural districts. where n
total registrations exceed a thousan
there IL room for the contention tn
IN. i:b districts into which wnmini
ton II divided might be reduced
about a hundred without imposing al
hardships on our citizens. AS to
pcrmanen, registration system. the
is suggestion In the fact that IL n
been employed in Maryland for yea
si'h success.
However. here We have some inte
.stinr matters OF consideration. i
whatever else may be done. a. "
- doubtful n any real occasion "
be- discovered for making any mater
changes In our Primary Election la
II has srsndiy stood the test OF prs
ticll operation for more than a Out
ter Of century. and no serious def
worth worrying about has ever be
discovered IN any OF its provisions.