Year: 1866

From the sacramento Bee.j


The New Elective System.


Last Saturday, in accordance with the law
which prescribes that an Act must 60 into oper-
alton in sixty days after its passage, the new
Registry Law took effect With regard to the
propriety of such a law there can be no dispute
among honest men, although there may be disa-
greement as to the manner in which it is to be
carried out. 1t is supposed and confidently
hoped that this Act will do away with all the
abuses which have heretofore disgraced our
popular elections often converting them into
deceit and a sham. The law applies to "all the
citizens of this State resident in their respective
counties, who are or may be, within six months,
by reason of continued residence, legal voters
thereof said law having been approved on the
10Th of March, 1866. The full name, age, coun-
try of nativity, occupation, exact place OF resi-
dence, with all particulars of naturalization of
the alien, are to be duly entered in n Great
Register kept by the County Clerk for that pur-
pose, and Assessors appointed whose duty it
shall be to register the names, pursuits, ETC., OF
all unregistered inhabitants of their counties, to
be by them returned to their respective County
Clerks. Quadrennial and supplementary lists OF
registered citizens are to be made out and print
ed The election districts and precincts are to
be established by Boards of Supervisors, by
whom Clerks and Judges of Election will be ap-
pointed except in cases where by law declared
elective. These Clerks and Judges will const-
tute the Board of Registration in their precincts,
and they shall enroll the names of all persons
entitled to vote during ninety days previous to
any election, and alphabetical lists OF legally
qualified persons will be posted in one or more
of the most public places of their districts, which
list shall be known as the poll list, and will su-
persede the poll list heretofore provided by law
No one can be enrolled after the opening OF the
polls, so that the necessity for prompttude III
going through the forms of registration becomes
all
ry precaution has been taken to insure the honest
administration of the law, and all the proceed
ings Of the Boards of Registration will be open
| to the public The Act prescribes that, in order
that every facility may be afforded, voters may
be enrolled on the poll lists whose names are
not found on the Great Register prior to July
| |, 1861 The mere fact of record in the later
volume will constitute the most satisfactory evi-
dence of citizenship. After July l, 1867, none
but those whose appear in the Great
Register can be enrolled rs voters, except in GER
tain cases specified in the law. No person will
be allowed to vote, under the provisions of this
Act, except where he resides, nor unless enroll
ed in the poll lists Lists of the registered voters
will be kept for reference at the polling places,
so that double or fraudulent voting will be near
ly out of question. Lists will be kept of all per-
sons attempting frauds. In case of removal
from the district, the citizen shall on removing
apply to the Clerk of Enrolment to have his en-
rollment on the poll list Cancelled.


1t will be the duty of the local officers to noti-
fy inhabitants to register and enroll themselves,
and heavy penalties attached for double or
fraudulent registration or enrolment both by
fine and Imprisonment. Illegalproceedings or
misconduct on the part of members of the Boards
of Registration of Judges of Election are
similarly provided for, well as neglect of duty
so that there is no lack Of safeguards.


The time for the holding of the general cleo
ton, including members of the Assembly, has
been fixed on the first Wednesday in September
in every second year, and in each bissextile or
Leap Year. on the first Tuesday in November, an
election for choosing Presidential Electors. The
special election for Justices of Supreme Cour-,
District and County Judges, and other Judicial
officers, rs well as q Superintendent of Public
Instruction, will be held on the third Wednes-
day in October of every second year-the polls
at all elections to remain open during one day
from eight o'clock until sunset. The election
returns will be canvassed by Boards of Supervi-
sors at their usual places of meeting. All laws


in conflict with the Registry Act are repealed
Abundant time has been afforded for carrying
the new statute into effect, and every means of
disseminating information will be afforded the
citizen. The whole process is simple, and when
it is considered that only by this conrse can the
purity of our elections be insured, no honest
person will object. OF course, it meets with
opposition from the factious minority who have
relied upon fraudulent voting and ballot-box
stufiing to carry the day, but even for that the
Act has remedy. Let the public once grow
accustomed to the new law and they will Won
der how they tolerated so long the old slipshod
and dishonest methods.