Evening star., 1961-09-26

publican parties have run serv-
ices for absentee voters stay
ing here but balloting in the
States. Their tallies are incom-
plete, however. So only regis
tration will indicate roughly
how many eligible voters are
registered absentee in the
States and how many will
switch their voting allegiance
to the District.
Here are the tests you must
meet under the bill just sent
to the White House in order to
vote for President and Vice
Age-Be 81 or older on elec-
ton day.
ReSidence-Have lived in the
District one year before cleo
ton day in November. You will
have to swear under regulations
yet to be established that you
have lived here that long and
that you will not vote for Presi-
dent in any other jurisdiction.
Character-Have never been
convicted of a felony unless
you were granted full pardon
from such conviction. Have
never been judged mentally
incompetent.
Registration-You must reg
lister in each year you wish to
vote in a presidential election,
from January l up to As days
before election day. Election
day is the same as in the States
the first Tuesday after the
first Monday in November.
This allows nine months for
registration in person.
You will be allowed to regis
ter by mail only II:
You are physically unable to
get TO registration offices your
self, and can prove it.
You are member Of or serv-
ing with the armed forces or
are a Government employe sta
toned overseas during the reg
period. In these Cir
cumStances, your family mem
bers may register absentee, too.
Absentee VOting-You may
vote by mail if you have regis
tered in person, but will be out
of town on election Gay. You
also may cast an absentee bal
lot if you registered urder the
absentee privileges of the phys
ically incapacitated, the mill
tary and civilian government
personnel.
Political Parties - Although
political parties are not men
toned as organizers of the
elections, Democrats and Re-
publicanS, with the most at
stake in the vote, will assume
responsibility for the elections.
The three-member Board of
will do the detail
work. Members are named by
Commissioners, who under the
aW also appoint the chairman.
Now board members choose
heir own chairman. The new
provision guarantees that the
party in power will
number the board chairman
among its members.
Democrats and Republicans
are promised places on the
ballot. The bill says candidates
nay be run by parties whose
candidates have been Presi-
lent since 1850.
Minority Parties-Their can
1idates may be entered on the
ballot by petition signed by at
east 5 per cent of voters
registered July l of a presi-
1ential election year.
The Ballot-It will contain
names of the candidates for
President and Vice President.
But you will be voting for three
electors of your candidates, al
,hough the electors names
will not appear. Choosing elec-
,orS will be the business of the
parties running candidates.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. vot-
ng or attempts to vote more
han once will draw a $500 fine
'r 90-day Jail sentence. or both.
No liquor is to be sold on cleo
ion day, except on a doctors
prescription. No candidate for
'lector may spend more than
$500, and no person may con-
ribute more than $4,000 for a
campaign. A limit of 100000
n contributions and spending
S imposed on party organiza-
ions.
Century-LOng Campaign
Clearance of the bill climaXes
century-long campaign by
The Star.
The vote in presidential elec-
ions has been denied here
ince the District was carved
'ut of Maryland and Virginia
n 1900. Yet. an amendment
lever won a floor vote in either
louSe of Congress until 1860,
lhen this newspaper launched
concerted effort for the suf-
rage reform.
One of the curioSities of the
districts new right is that the
district electoral votes raise
he total possible number Of
otes to 538. Two presidential
andidates could win an equal
lumber of votes, throwing the
lection into the House of Rep
eSentativeS.
In case of a tie, members of
ne House would choose the
re sic ent. Each delegation