The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-01-05
Change In Election Laws
Recommended By The NC.
State Board OF Elections

in election returns.
In many counties the registra-
ton books are scarcely more
than lists of names, without in
formation as to age, residence
place of birth, party utilization
and date of registration, as re-
quired by registration laws. They
contain names of hundreds OF
thousands of dead persons, non
residents, and disqualified fell
ons."
ITO remedy this condition, .
says the Board, 1--WE recommend
Cd a new statewide registration;
(2) that this statewide registra-
ton be made without access or
reference to present registration
books; 90 that any duly quail
fed voter who may be absent
from his precinct during the reg
istration period, may, by making
proper affidavit register by mail,
if it can be done consistent with
the constitution.
"There is need" says the re-
port, ''for the assistance to the
occasional illiterate, to voters
who who may be absent from his
precinct during the registration
period, may, by making proper
affidavit register by mail, if it
can be done consistent with the
constitution"
There is need" says the re-
port, "fOr the assistance to the
occasional illiterate, to voters who
are blind, paralytic, or laboring
under the physical handicap
prevents them from marking
their ballots; but there is no need
for markers to assist voters who
are not thus handicapped, in or
der to register the will of the
people at the polls.
I'VE recommend the abolition
of all markers in general cleo
the enactment of a statute sub
stantially as follows: Any voter,
who by reason of any physical
disability is unable to mark his
ballot, and such disability is ap-
parent to the registrar and judg-
es of elections, or any voter who
shall make oath, to be admins
tered by the registrar, that he is
unable to read, may, upon re-
quest, be aided by a near rela-
tive, who shall be admitted to
the booth with such voter, or, if
no near relative is present, such
voter may call to his assistance
any other voter Of said precinct
who has not given aid to another
voter, and who shall likewise be
admitted to the booth with such
voter"
There is we'll nigh universal
recognition of the abuses of the
present absentee ballot law,
continues the report, land many
Of these have come to the atten-
ton of the State Board of Elec-
tons. The most prevalent abus-
es resulting from the use of the
present law are: Cd many voters
using the privilege are not en-
titled to use it; GU many non
residents, and others not quail
fled to vote, cast votes by the use
of this law, and thus nullify the
will of an equal number of gall
fed voters whose votes have
been honestly cast; 90 many bal
lots are cast by means of forgery
of names at qualified voters, OBJ
tanned on forged applications and
voted on spurious and forged sig
natures TO what purport to be af-
fidavits; "a many intense parti-
sans, with the connivance and CO.
operation of the custodian of the
absentee ballots, improperly and
unlawfully obtained possession Of
official ballots, with supporting
certificates, in blank, and in
market basket fashion, go out
in quest of votes; in many in
stances forging the signatures Of
persons whose names are signed
to the affidavits and ballots; Is,
many partisan workers and many
others inspired by the desire fol
financial gain, obtain large mum
bers of official ballots in the
name of absentee voters, and vote
them for such candidates as they
please, and in many instances
''haWk" those ballots for sale tt
persons willing to buy and pay
for them; CO. many Notaries, JUS
tees of the Peace, and other of
filalS authorized to administer
oaths, certify that the alleged alb
sent voter has taken the re
quired oath, and affixed theil
seals to such certificate withou
ever seeing the voter whose
name has been signed to the aft
daVit.