Evening star., 1935-01-20
VOTE SUPERVISORS
PROPOSE REFORMS
Permanent System of Reg.
istration Urged on Nice
by County Body.
Nv a STAFF correspondent of The Star.

BY STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md, January 19.-
Establishment of a permanent system
of registration and other reforms in
the State election laws are advocated
In a program of suggested legislation
forwarded to Gov. Harry w. Nice TO-
day by the Board of Montgomery
County Election Supervisors.
A co-feature Of the program Is q
proposal that Maryland follow the ex-
ample set by number Of other States
and dispense with the requirement
that new voters file declarations OF
intentions one year prior to their
actual registration.
1t is urged instead that new voters
be allowed to appear before the elec-
ton supervisors Of their respective
communities at any time and that
their registration be accepted if they
meet the requirements to become a
registered voter of the State.
Would Eliminate Red Tape.
It was also suggested that the Cen
eral Assembly authorize a complete
and exhaustive study of the entire
State election set-up in an effort to
eliminate a great deal of unnecessary
red tape and expense now connected
with the holding of elections and that
the study be completed in time for
consideration at the 1887 session of
the Legislature.
Each of the changes proposed in the
program would require enactment for
the entire State, because election laws
are required to be uniform through
out Maryland. 1t is hoped that Gov.
Nice will present the proposals to the
State Legislature with his personal
Endorsement.
The permanent system Of registra-
ton advocated by the local board
would employ visible filing system in
which loose-leaf cards for each regis
tered voter would be entered and the
entire file locked to prevent tamper-
ing. In addition, duplicate file for
each precinct would be set up and
sent out to election officials on elec-
tion day In place of the books that
are used at the present time.
Would Save Money.
The duplicate files also would be
locked and the keys retained in the
custody Of the election board.
1t was said by F. Byrne Austin,
clerk to the local board, that the new
system would prove step toward
economy, for it would eliminate the
necessity for periodical reregistrations
Of voters and for tranScribing election
books when they become too old for
further use.
In addition, the master file would
prove invaluable in checking regis
tered voters, for the entile list of vot-
ers in each county Or city would be
filed alphabetically.
The board suggested the abolition
Of the declaration of intentions so
that new residents may participate
In elections as soon as they establish
the fact they are qualified to vote
Under the present set-up new voters
are required to wait from one to three
years after moving into the State
before they can vote.
Machines Endorsed.
Endorsement was given Gov. Nice's
recent proposal that voting machines
be installed throughout the State, the
supervisors declaring that it would
minimize the possibilities of any ir-
regularities in the counting Of ballots
or the conduct of elections.
The machines would eventually
prove elf-liquidating, for they would
eliminate the expense of employing a
large number of election clerks and
the costs of prolonged counts of elec-
tions, the supervisors stated.