Case Name: In re E. L. REID AND E. O. CURTIS
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1896-09
Citations: 119 N.C. 641
Docket Number: 
Parties: In re E. L. REID AND E. O. CURTIS.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 119
Pages: 641–649

Head Matter:
In re E. L. REID AND E. O. CURTIS.
Election Law — Registration—Duty of Registrars.
1. Under chapter 159, Acts of 1895 (Election Law), registrars may-ask the elector his age and residence, the township or county from whence he removed, in case of such removal since the last election, and (under the authority of Section 1, Article 6 of the Constitution) whether he has resided in the State twelve months, and in the county in which he proposes to vote ninety days, preceding the election.
2. If, in reply to such questions, the elector answers that he is twenty-one years old, and has resided in the State twelve months and in the county ninety days preceding the elect, ion, it is the duty of the registrars, upon his taking the prescribed oath, to record his name as a voter ; but bystanders may require him to be sworn as to his residence.
8. Challenges must be made at the time and in the manner specified in the Election Law of 1895.
(Avery and Clark, J. J., concur, but are of the opinion that the additional question, to-wit, whether the applicant for registration “has been convicted of an infamous crime,” should be allowed to be asked.)
This matter came up to this Court on the appeal of E. L. Reid and E. 0. Curtis, registrars of the 5th ward of "Winston, Forsyth county, from an order made by Walter A. MONTGOMERY, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court in Chambers in Raleigh, on the 13th day of October, 1896. The order was made upon proceedings instituted under Section 7 of the Election Law of 1895. The petition} accompanied with affidavits to support it, alleged that Curtis and Reid, registrars, had unlawfully and corruptly combined to prevent lawful registration in their ward and were carrying the plan into effect; and there was a prayer for an order to compel the registrars to proceed with the registration of all lawful voters. Counter-affidavits were 119 — 41 filed in which the facts stated in the petition were denied, and especially the charge of a corrupt combination on the part of the registrars to prevent registration. Upon the hearing by Justice Montgomery it was found as a fact that the registrars had not combined to prevent legal registration but that they were violating the election law as to the registration of voters ; and it was ordered that they should proceed with registration according to law as prescribed in'tlie order. The rules prescribed in the order are set out in the opinion of the Court.
Mr. J. W. Graham, for plaintiff.
Messrs. E. B. Jones and Shepherd cfi Btisbee, for defendants (appellants).

Opinion:
Eairoloth, C. J. :
This matter comes before us by appeal from an order and judgment made by W. A. MontgoMery, one of the justices of this Court. After argument by counsel we are of opinion that said order is in accordance with the true intent of the Act of Assembly cf 1895, Oh. 159, and the same is affirmed. In consideration of the importance of the matter, it is proper to say that we thinlc the registrars under said act may ask the elector his age and residence, as well as the township or county from whence he removed, in the case of a removal since the last election, and the name by which he is commonly known, and that by authority of the Constitution, Art. 6, Sec. 1, the registrars may ask the elector if he has resided in the State twelve months next preceding the electionand ninety days in the county in which he offers to vote, and that no more questions can be asked by the registrars under said act. If the elector answers that he is 21 years old, and has resided in the State twelve months and in the county ninety days previous to the election at which he proposes to vote, it is the duty of the registrars, upon his taking the oath prescribed by Section 16, to record his name as a voter. Upon the. request of any bystander lie can be sworn as to his residence. Challenges, if m^de at all, must be made at the time and in the manner specified in the act.
Affirmed.