The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-24
HEAVY DROP IN
PRIMARY VOTE
IS PREDICTED
Public Apathy and Errors
in Registration Are
Blamed.
BY DICK MILLER
Times Staff Writer

Heavy Acknowledgement of voters
in the May primary because of
public apathy toward voter regis
tration, was indicated today.
In addition to the inertia of eligi-
BILE voters, there have been several
instances of irregularities by deputy
registration officials, one case in
which approximately half the votes
in one precinct were invalidated by
inefficient registration work.
1t was necessary for Prosecutor
Herbert Wilson to threaten grand
jury action against Negro Demo-
cratic worker who had registered
the precinct vote on a wholesale
basis and at first refused to correct
his tabulatiOnS.
Complaints to The Times have
included the charges that some dep
uty registration officers have not
gone ahead with registration in
some precincts where they found
families opposed to a particular
candidate in whom they are inter-
ested.
Forging Is Banned
Many persons, according to Coun-
ty Clerk Glenn RalSton and Charles
R. Ettinger, his chief deputy, who is
in charge of registration, unwilling
ly have invalidated votes by "forg-
ing names of persons in the
family
ReregiStration has been necessary
IN these cases.
In calculating the probable total
vote, political observers use the last
figures cast in the secretary of state
race. These in Marion county in
1882 were Republicans, 97,547, and
Democrats, 1O7683, for a total of
205, 230.
Of this number, Mr.. Ralston and
Mr.. Ettinger expect between 10000
and 10000 to be registered for the
primary.
Mistakes Irk RaIstOn
Basing calculations on the gen.
orally accepted theory that so per
cent of the population are voters,
the total registered for the pri-
mary should be 100000.
Persons who fail to register on
or before April 9 will lose their vote
in the primary, but beginning May
Is and continuing to the twenty
ninth day before the fall election,
Nov. 6, may register for the fall
election.
This is expected to bring the
221 900, or 80 per cent.
Incredulity that mistakes could be
made by deputy registration officers
was voiced by Mr.. Ralston and Mr..
Ettinger, who point out the detailed
instructions given for the job.
Registration Is Explained
To register legally, a person must
sign his or her name, the signature
must be in the presence of the reg
istration officer and no one may sign
for another person.
Where persons are absent, the
registration officer leaves a notice
which includes the telephone num-
Der of the officer. Many voters ap-
parently can not understand that
they should call the registration Of
f1cer, Mr.. Ettinger points out.
Registration in precincts will end
Monday, Mr.. Ralston announced
and after that date until April 9, it
will be necessary for voters to come
to Room "a at the courthouse.
The office will be kept open from
8 a. m. to 9 p. m. daily including
Sunday. Mr. Ralston said, and any
person desiring registration infor-
nation may telephone Riley 1891.
With a light registration in pros
pect, Mrs. Joseph ]. Daniels today
issued ali appeal in behalf of the
League of Women Voters.
%The number CT persons regis
tered falls far short of those eligi-
BILE and only short time remains"
Mrs. Daniels said.