Evening star., 1946-09-01
Womss:='s League
Offers Information
On absentee TOtinp

II you maintain an out-of town
residence and are entitled to vote in
the November general elections but
need brushing up on your States
voting regulations, just call the
League of Women Voters ofiice at
1916 Connecticut avenue NV. after
September and they will supply
you with all the information.
One of the leagues fall projects
is the setting up of an information
bureau. stated with trained work.
ers, who will give expert, nonpar-
tisan advice to inquiring voters.
In preparation for this service,
members Of the league will 60 to
school this week to study up on the
voting regulations in the various
States. Mrs. Charles r. Brannan
will direct the training courses.
A similar service was maintained
by the league before the 1914 presi-
Dental election, when more than
1,5O0 calls for information were
answered at the league office. The
Of questioners were eligible
to vote and number called back
later to report that they had been
successful in receiving their ballots.
The largest percentage OF queries
came from voting residents of New
York, whose election laws are as
complicated as those of the poll tax
States.
Staff members of both Republican
and Democratic national headuuar-
ters here report that more interest
is being shown in voting in the pri-
mary elections this year than in the
congressional primaries of 1912, and
that they expect a large absentee
vote to be cast in November.
1t is this developing interest in
the 1916 election that has given the
league the incentive to again estab-
i1sh an information bureau.
According to information COM
piled by the Fact-Finding Commit
tee headed by Mrs. Clarence Fisher.
eight States do not permit absentee
voting out Of the States. In Florida
and Missouri absentee ballots may
be cast within the States, but in
Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey,
New Mexico, Pennsylvania and
South Carolina every voter must
appear at the polls in person. Maine
will hold its general election Sep
tember 9.
Rules and regulations differ
widely among the other States,
however, as to the manner of cast
ing an absentee ballot.
Some States, including Virginia,
require that small deposit be sent
in with the application for an
absentee ballot, to cover mailing
costs. In Texas, the prospective
voter is required to send his poll
tax receipt, or an exemption certifi-
cate or an affidavit OF the loss of
the receipt. Questions concerning
rules like these will be ably and
promptly answered by league menu
bers, after they have finished the
training school courses.
An added service of the bureau
will be information on the voting
records of members of Congress on
issues which are part of the leagues
program. In accordance with the
leagues nonpartisan policy, "yes"
or mo" will be all the answer given
to queries of this nature.
Mrs. Maurice Goodman Is chair
man Of the committee which will
direct the service and Mrs. Earl ".
Simrell is in charge OF the personnel
who will staff the office for the two
month period.
Other members of the committee
are: Mrs. w. Park Armstrong, Mrs.
George Baldwin, Mrs. George Beish-
leg, Mrs. Samuel B. Brown, Mrs. r.
P. Douglas. Mrs. Tom Paul Emerich,
Mrs. E. B. Gladding, Mrs. r. F..
Haggerty, Mrs. Nathan Ostron,
Mrs. Charles H. Thompson and
Mrs, Mark Winkler.