GERALDC.MMIi Aunnnr as. TEXAIW Maroh 27, 1939
Mr. E. R. I;lndlay qlief C+-k Rouse t$ Reprssentatiws Austin,Texas
DearMr.Lindley: opinion No. o-547 Rer QueI.iflo&lon'of voters for eleotionto amend Constitu- .. tion.
Reoeipt~lir aakimwledgedof your letterof this $ats enolosing a 06~~oP-Roti.SimpleResolutionlb 186, wh%oh resolutionrequestsan Opinionof;this~Oepartmsnt upon the questionwhetheronly tax peysm who have riindijred propSty fbr taxation,and are otheimisequalified,CPII' vote in-the proposedsleotionon the Constitutional Pmendmnt provided~ for 3n-joikt%esoluk~o:on-'ND.:~ 18 if it is sulmfttsdtothe'peopler~:The resolutionrequestingthe opinionatatesthat under krtiole 8,~Seotlon Sa of the &m?titutionthsla is a very seriousquo&Ion as to whc~muld be entiUIedto vote, if said'Constitutlona1amendmentis suhnittedto the pooplo,Inview of the fast that the propped amendmentprovidesfor certaintaxes. ..~. .&Mole 17 of_fhe Constitutionprovidesthat muendmnts to the Condtiitriti~nm~impfopawd to be voted upon by the qualifiedeleotors for members of the bgislature. -...~ ArEioli6, S?oSion2 of the Constitutionprovides'whoare q&fied eleotdrstith~oertainrequiranwntfrand~alsoosrtainmstrlo- tions set out in reation1, none of nhioh requiresthe eleotorto own taxableprop*. . ~I16iole8; &otion 3i ofthe Constitution mentionedin the resolutionplearlyis not applioableto p &ate wide &s&ion, which his necessaryto amend%he Constitution, but appliesonly to elections held by oouiitieaor mAdiv~sions named in said seotion. The only part of said'seotionwhich might be aonstrued~a8includingan electionby the state as a whole is that part of the seotionreading'pny member of counties.*'.Ilbdo not believe,however,that this provisionof the Constitution.nas 'intendedto inoludethe state a8 a ahole. Inultfis first plaoe,the Constitutionreoo&zes that there are oertainprovisionsof the Constitutionand laws Wioh authorizessWral'coui&iasto issue 'bonds,suoh as &%iole 3;'Beotion52, whioh authorites'a9g nwber of adjoiningca&ies" to -issuebonds for certainparposes. In the next plPoei~we'believe fhat if it had bean the intentionof this provision Hon. E. R. Idndley,Page 2 (O-547)
of the Constitutionto make the phrase'any number of counties"mean the State as a whole, it would have been easierfor the provisionto have used the word "Staten.
You am, therefore,advisedthat it is the opinionof this Departmentthat all voters whD are qualifiedunder tbs provisionsof A~%iols 6, Sections1 and 2 of the Constitution, are qualifiedto vote on the proposedamendmentto the Constitution.
Yoursvery truly
k Grady.ChaSler .k3,ssistmt