Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1917 — HOUSE VOTES TO CUT ELECTION COST [ARTICLE]

HOUSE VOTES TO CUT ELECTION COST

Mason Bill is Passed 83 to 10—Will Simplify Methods of Registering of Votera. • "Under suspension of rules the house of representatives Tuesday passed the Mason bill agreed on by the leaders of the republican and democratic parties for the purpose of simplifying the methods of registering voters by amending the present registration law. It is estimated that the proposed change will save 60 per cent of the cost which the cumbersome registration law now places on the counties in the state. The vote was 83 to 10 in favor of the measure. The bill provides that instead of registration boards for every precinct, as under the present law, there shall be a permanent registration board in every county, of which the chief registration clerk shall be the county auditor. This board shall be in continuous session from April 1 until twenty-nine days before election of -every election year. Any voter living in the county will have the right to register with this board either in person or through the mail, with the filing of proper affidavits. The bill also contains a section which makes it possible for voters to register at the polls on primary election day if they so desire. The bill provides for the appointment of two registration clerks, one republican and one democrat, to sit in the pri-. mary polls and receive the registration blanks. These blanks are to be placed in a ballot box and then taken to the courthouse and filed with the permanent registration clerk.