Evening star., 1952-08-19
Let's Get Out the Vote
By Robert K. Walsh

The voice OF the people IN the
November presidential election will
be faint and half-hearted unless
registration of voters becomes an
all-out operation.
President Truman's recent COM
plant that only 81 per cent of
this country's eligible voters went
to the polls in 1948 would have
been even more dismal if confined
to Maryland and Virginia-the
two States nearest the District.
Only 81 per cent of the people
Of voting age in Virginia four
years ago actually voted for Presi-
dent. Only about 40 per cent of
the otherwise eligible electorate in
Maryland voted in that election.
Long Way to Go.
~ The situation in nearby counties
was hardly better. The prospect,
according to registration trends
thus far in those counties. is the
brightest since 1910. But, notwith-
standing promises by party off,
cials to step up registration efforts,
together with a nationwide super
drive to get out the vote, those
areas have a long way to go to
register as much as so per cent
of their potential voters.
October 4 is the last date for
registering in Maryland and Viz
ginia. To register and vote in
Maryland a person must have
lived in that State for one year
before next November. and not
less than six months in the coun-
ty. Virginia requires one year
in the State, six months in the
county, and one month in the
precinct. Virginia also requires
payment of a poll tax. The dead
line for that payment was last
May.
Many EXpldnaClOnS.
officials and others closely in
terested in the difficult problem
of assuring a really representa-
tive and comprehensive registra-
ton and voting offer many ex-
plantations for the democratic
laxity. They also suggest many
remedies, more numerous and
better co-ordinated this year than
in the past.
The basic question suggests its
own best answer. How can people,
otherwise good citizens and loyal
Americans, be prompted to per-
form a citizens fundamental
duty to vote?
People, whether or not poten-
tial voters, do not like to be
pushed or nagged or scolded into
so obvious an obligation as regis
tering and voting. But. according
to a view emphasized by some get
out-the-vote non-partisan groups,
most people will respond to re-
minders, convenient opportunities,
and clear-cut information on what
voting issues are all about.
Evidence of Inertia.
In any event, nothing can be
lost by pointing-without pride
to the evidence of indifference and
inertia that has crept over the
electorate in recent years.
The 81 per cent voting total
mentioned by President Truman
was the most depressing in more
than 20 years. In 1948, out Of a
potential total of 94,815, 900 voters,
48. 8.836,579 took part in the presi-
Dental election.
The Census Bureau estimates
more than 100000 men and
women in the voting age group
Of 81 years and over in most
States and 18 in Georgia. The
largest number ever to vote for|
President was 49,820,312 in 1910.
That was about 62 per cent of the
potential voters.
Many political observers predict
that the total vote for President inl
November will be we'll over so mil
lion. and perhaps as high as SIS
million. The goal of the Ameri-
ian Heritage Foundation and some
~ actively interested non-partisanI
groups is So million.
But registering and voting more
than so million this year would
not necessarily make a better per-
showing than in some past
presidential elections. Back in
1900, for instance. only IA million
voted for President but they were
"A per cent of the potential vote.
In 1916, before women could
vote, almost 70.8 per cent of the
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