Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-09
Registering the Voters.

; just now the registration of voters
is the order of the day in most of the
States. The electorate is being recorded
under a wide range of regulations as a
preliminary to the balloting four weeks
from today, In most of the States the
registration period extends over several
days, giving the fullest opportunity to
the people to enroll their names. Wide
publicity is given to the schedule of
days and hours. Party workers engage
in veritable campaign of arousal to
insure that the greatest possible num-
Der of potential voters register and thus
qualify themselves. But at that, there
are many who do not respond, some
who are unable to do so by reason of
illness or temporary absence from their
voting places; some who are Indifferent,
some who are unaware of the necessity.
The registration never equals the total
possible vote, Just as the vote itself on
election day falls short of the registra-
ton.
Registration records are studied
closely as indications of the political
trend. If there Is an unusually large
recording of voters in a normally Re-
publican area that fact is taken as a
portent of an unusually large Republic
can vote In November, and similarly a
heavy enrolment In region which
usually gives a Democratic majority is
accepted as an index of margin for
that party The registration laws,
however, differ in the States so that In
some there is no possibility of figuring
on the party prospects from the number
of names registered, For purposes of
voting in primaries the registrants are
required to denominate their parties,
those with which they were affiliated at
the last preceding election. In some
jurisdictions these primary registrations
serve for final voting purposes, and thus
in States with laws of that character
the registration figures are directly sig
nificant.
"If YOU do not register you cannot
votel" is a slogan of warning sounded
by party workers in all parts Of the
country. Many potential voter is dis
appointed through misunderstanding of
the requirement. So wide is the varia-
ton of the laws on this subject that
confusion is easily possible and many
thousands of votes are lost in conSe-
uuence. Herein the efficiency of party
organization in towns, cities, counties
and States is demonstrated. A slack
organization that fails to give full In
formation and insures that it reaches
every possible voter contributes to party
defeat, and likewise an active. efficient
organization makes for victory.
The registration of voters is an es-
sential preliminary. 1t is obvious that
the polls cannot be opened on election
day to an who may come forward with
| ballots without a previous test Of quail
/ ifications. Registration effects q dec
| ,aration. sometimes under oath, Of the
age, place of residence. length OF resi-
| dence and other qualifications OF citl-
zenship. The lapse of time between
registration day and election affords op-
portunity for inquiry, and If the regis
trant is not in fact qualified as votei
he may be challenged at the polls In
November. Registration also lessons the
likelihood of fraudulent voting by sub
stitution and by repeating.
If the registration this year in thu
country at large reaches 40,0o0,OOo i
NAV be assured that the vote will breal
all records for presidential contest
| It is hoped that the vote will reach a
lleast $4,000 which would still b.
short of complete expression OF pop
Mar will