Case Name: STATE ex rel. HODGES v. JOYCE, Registrar of Voters, et al.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1911-04-10
Citations: 128 La. 438
Docket Number: No. 18,742
Parties: STATE ex rel. HODGES v. JOYCE, Registrar of Voters, et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 128
Pages: 437–439

Head Matter:
(54 South. 934.)
No. 18,742.
STATE ex rel. HODGES v. JOYCE, Registrar of Voters, et al.
(April 10, 1911.)
(Syllabus by the Court.)
Elections (§ 73*) — Qualifications of Voters — “Actual Bona Fide Resident.”
A person who left the state of Louisiana in October, 1910, and moved to the state of Arkansas, where he secured employment and has ever since lived and worked, and intends there to remain for an indefinite time, is not an “actual bona fide resident” of this state, in the sense of article 197 of the Constitution.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Elections, Cent. Dig. §§ 69, 70; Dec. Dig. § 73.*
For other definitions, see Words and Phrases, vol. 1, p. 168; vol. 8, p. 7565.]
Appeal from Tenth Judicial District Court, Parish of Concordia; John S. Boatner, Judge.
Proceedings by rule by the State, on relation of A. J. Hodges, against John J. Joyce, Registrar of Voters, and another, to have the name of the other defendant erased from the registration roll. Judgment for defendants, and relator appeals.
Reversed.
Calhoun & Calhoun, for appellant. John S. Boatner, Jr., for appellee Farr.

Opinion:
LAND, J.
This is a proceeding by rule to have erased from the registration roll the name of the defendant F. A. Farr, on the ground that he is not a bona fide resident of the village of Ferriday, but has been for more than six months a bona fide resident of the state of Arkansas. A curator ad hoc was appointed to represent the defendant, who later appeared by counsel and answered, denying all the allegations of the relator's petition, except that he had been registered as a voter.
Defendant lived in Ferriday and worked in the railroad shops until early in October, 1910, when he voluntarily gave up his position and went to Arkansas, where later he secured work in the railroad shops of the same system at MeGehee. He there rented a furnished house, in which he and his wife have resided ever since. Defendant left his furniture in Ferriday, in 'the same house which he had occupied while there residing, in care of his mother-in-law and family, and has paid a small part of the rent. Defendant admits that he actually resides in the state of Arkansas, and may continue to do so for an indefinite time. Defendant's residence in Arkansas is of the same kind and character as was his residence in Ferriday. As a matter of fact the defendant actually resides out of the state, and his residence in Ferriday is a mere matter of intendment. Under article 197 of the Constitution, a voter must be an actual bona fide resident of the precinct in which he offers to register, and cannot actually reside in two places at the same time.
It is therefore ordered that the judgment below be reversed, and it is now ordered that the name of F. A. Farr be erased on the registration roll, as prayed for by the relator.