Opinion ID: 2090954
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The qualifications to vote prescribed by the statute.

Text: It is true that none of the sections of the act specifies in so many words the persons who may participate in the voting. However, it is recognized as a fundamental principle of construction that a statute often speaks as plainly by inference as by express words. Matters which are so clearly implied are considered an integral part of the enactment itself. Brandon v. Montclair, 124 N.J.L. 135, 143 ( Sup. Ct. 1940), affirmed 125 N.J.L. 367 ( E. & A. 1940). In the present case, resort to the various sections of the law leaves no doubt as to the legislative intention. Section 1 says that the inhabitants of part of a township may become incorporated as a village. The significance of that word is inescapable. An inhabitant in the generally accepted connotation is one who actually and permanently resides in a given place and who has his domicile there. Black's Law Dictionary (4 th ed. 1951), p. 921; one who dwells or resides permanently in a place, as distinguished from a transient lodger or visitor;    it ordinarily implies more fixity of abode than resident.    Inhabitant, the general term, implies permanent abode. Webster's New International Dictionary (2 d ed. ); State v. Ross, 23 N.J.L. 517, 520, 521 ( Sup. Ct. 1852); State v. Deshler, 25 N.J.L. 177 ( Sup. Ct. 1855); State v. Casper, Collector, 36 N.J.L. 367, 368 ( Sup. Ct. 1873); Sprague v. Sprague, 131 N.J. Eq. 104, 109 ( E. & A. 1942). Thus, the potent implication is that the Legislature authorized the permanent residents of the incipient village to seek the election. But which inhabitants have the capacity to vote? The answer is supplied by section 6, N.J.S.A. 40:157-6, which directs that The election shall be conducted, as nearly as may be, in accordance with the general laws relating to elections. In the face of this mandate, it would be sheer sophistry to argue that the Legislature did not mean legal voters as defined by the Constitution, Article II, paragraph 3, and the General Election Law, N.J.S.A. 19:4-1.