Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1884 — QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS. [ARTICLE]

QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS.

An Epitome of the Laws of the Several States Relating to the .Subject. Naturalization, Registration, and Residence Requisites—The Disfranchised Classes. Under the electoral system practiced in this country the States have the exclusive power of oeciaring, each-tor itself, which of the citizens shall vote,; but in no case.shall any persoh be excluded from voting on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The States, however, eanuot grant the franchise indiscriminately, for the National Government has the exclusive authority to declare who shall be citizens. Any State may adopt an educational or property franchise or condition, providing it applies equally, to all citizens. Under the Constitution of the United States "all persons bom or naturalized in the U nited States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United Statesand of the State Wherein they reside;" and "no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law." In all States the right of suffrage is limited to male citizens 21 years of age, except that in Colorado. Massachusetts, and a. few other States women are permitted to vote at school-district elections. There is a great lack of uniformity .in the suffrage laws of the several States, as the following will show: In Alabama the requirement is that the voter must be a citizen, or have d'eclared his: intention to become a citizen, must have been in the State one year, in the county three months, and in the voting precinct onc month. Indians, idiots, and men convicted of crime can not vote. In Arkansas, citizens, or those Who have declared .their intention to b* come such, except Indians, idiots, and criminals, may vote after a residence of one year in the State, six months in the eonnty, and one month m the voting precinct. Registration is prohibited as being a bar to suffrage. In California, only actual citizens can vote after having been one year in the State, ninety days in the county, and thirty days in the voting precinct. Registration is required by law, and Chinese, Indians, idiots, and convicts are excluded from voting —— In Colorado, citizens, or those who have declared their intention to become such, may vote after a residence of six months in the State, persons in prison only being excluded. Registration is required by the constitution. In Connecticut, actual citizens, except those unable to read and convicts, can vote after a residence of one year in the State, and six months in the county and voting precinct. Registration is required by law. In Delaware, actual county taxpayers, except convicts, the insane, paupers, and idiots, may votenfter a residence of one year in-the State and one month in the county. In Florida, citizens of the United States, or those who have declared their intention to become such, except betters on elections, duelists, idiots, the insane, and criminals, can vote after a residence of one year in the State and six months in the county. Registration is required by the constitut’on. In Georgia. actual citizens, except non-taxpay-ers, criminals, idiots, and the insane, can vote alter a res dence of one year in the State and six months in the count v.; In Illinois, actual citizens, except convicts, may wote after a Tesidence—of~one year in the' State,-ninety days in the conn tv. andthirty days in..the voting piecinct. JKegistration is required, by law. in Indiana, citizens, or those who have declared their intention so to become, except fraudulent voters and bribers, may vote after a residence of six"months in the State, sixty days in the county, and thirty days in the voting pre-

In lowa, actual citizens, except crimina’s, idiots, and the insane, may vote after a resideuce of six months in the State and sixty da vs in the county. Registration is required by law. In Kansas, citizens, or those who have declared their intention to become so, except rebels, convicts, idiots, and the insane, can vote after a residence of six months in the State and thirty days in the voting precinct. Registration is required in cities only. In Kentucky, under the State law, only free white male citizens, except convicts, can vote after a residence of two years in the State, one year in the county, and sixty days in the voting precinct, but the exclusion of colored citizens being in conflict with the Federal Constitution, the law limiting the suffrage to white citizens Is of no effect. In Louisiana, citizens, or those who have declared tlieir intention to become such, except criminals, idiots, and the insane, can vote after a residence of one year in the State, six months in the county, and thirty days in the voting precinct. ■— t-t- __ r __ In Maine, actual citizens, except paupers and Indians not taxed, may vote atter a residence of three months in the State. Registration is required. t. In Maryland, actual citizens, except criminals, those guilty of bribery, and the insane, can vote after a residence of one year in the State and six months in the county. Registration is required. In Massachusetts, citizens, except paupers, illiterates, non-taxpayers, and persons under guardians, can vote after a residence of One year in the t State and six months in the precinct. Registration is required; In Michigan, citizens, or those who have declared their intention of becoming such, except duelists, can vote after a residence of three months in the State and ten days in the voting precinct. Registration is required. In Minnesota, citizens, or those who have declared their intention to become so, except convicts, lunatics, and idiots, can vote after a residence of four months in the State and ten days in the voting precinct. Registration is required. In Missouri, citizens, or those who have declared their intention tosbecome so, except United States soldiers, paupers, criminals, and lunatics, can vote after a residence of one year in the State and sixty days in ttie county. Registration is required in the cities only. In Mississippi, actual citizens, except criminals, idiots, and lunatics, can Vote after a residence of six months in that State and one month in the county. Registration is requited. In Nebraska, citizens, or those who have declared their intention of ’ becoming so? except United States soldiers, convicts, and idiots, can vote after a residence of six months in the State. Registration is required. In Nevada, citizens, or those who have declared their intention so to become, except criminals, idiots, and lunatics, can vote after a residence of six months in the State and thirty days in the county. Registration is required. In New Hampshire, actual citizens, except paupers, can vote after a residence of six months in the town. Registration is required. In New Jersey, actual citizens, except criminals, paupers, lunatics, and idiots, can vote after a residence of one year in the State and five months in the county. Registration is required in cities of 10,000 inhabitants or over. In New York, actual citizens, except convicts and election betters and bribers, may vote after a residence of one year in the State, four months in the county, and thirty days in the voting precinct. Registration is required in cities of 10,000 inhabitants or over. In North Cai olina, actual citizens, except convicts, can vote after a residence of twelve months in the State and ninety days in the county. Registr tion is required. In Ohio, actual citizens, except idiots and lunatics, can vote after a residence of one year in the State, thirty days in the county, and single men twenty daysin the voting precinct. In Oregon, citizens, or those who have declared their intention of becoming so, except Chinamen, United States soldiers, convicts, lunatics, and idiots, may vote after a residence of six months in the State.

In Pennsylvania, actual citizens, except nontaxpayers and political bribers, can vote after a residence of. one year in the State and two months in the voting precinct. Reg.stration is required, In Rhode Island, actual taxpaying citizens who possess property to the Value of $134 can' vote after a residence of one year in the State and six months in the towns. Registration is required. In South Carolina, actual citizens, except United States soldiers, duelists, panpers, criminals, lunatics and idiots, may vote after a residence of one year in the State and sixty days in the county. Registration is required. In Tennessee, actusi citizens, except nonpayers of poll-tax, may vote after a residence of twelve months in the State and six months in the county. In Texas, citizens, or those who have declared their intention of becoming so, except United States soldiers, criminals, idiots, lunatics, and paupers, can vote after a residence of ene year in the State and six months in the county and voting precinct. Registration is prohibited by the constitution. In Vermont, actual citizens, except bribers, can vote after a residence of one year in the State. Registration « required. In Virginia, actual citizens, except United States soldiers, non-payets of capitation tax, duelists, convicts, idiots, and lunatics, can vote after a residence of twelve months in the State ana three months in towns. Registration is required. In West Virginia, actual citizens, except convicts, paupers, and lunatics, can vote after a residence of one year in the State and six months

in the county. Registration la prohibited b> the constitution. In Wisconsin, citizens or those who have de dared their intention, of becoming so, excep duelists, bribers, betters, convicts, lunatics, an< idiots, may vote after a residence of one year ij the State. It will be observed that but one State, Ken tucky. requires a residence of more than on ye*r in the State before acquiring the right t< vote; twenty-tOYe require one year, eight requirsix. months, one requires four months, and tw require but three months. Only one, Kentucky in its laws, conflicts with the Constitution of thi United States.