|
the district, and restore the word "six
months", which would bring us wholly in
conformity with our present constitutional
provision.
I think this amendment should go through,
because it seems reasonable to me, Mr.
President, that we ought not to be allowing
everyone to vote. It certainly is a privilege,
but who ought to have that privilege? The
people who have been here at least one
year and have demonstrated that they in-
tend to reside here and that they are going
to be permanent residents, and that they
have lived here at least long enough to
know something about their county and
about their State, about their functions
and about the people who are going to run
for offices.
They ought to know something about the
bond issues and various things that are
coming up for them to vote on. And I
think it is very important that while it
might seem a little harsh for our new resi-
dents and we want to accord them every
privilege, and courtesy and kindness that
we can give them, we have still got to
look out for the welfare of our counties
and our community and our State, and I
think to require them to be here one year
before they are entitled to register is ask-
ing little enough.
In the old days when we had the one
year requirement, we even had the addi-
tional requirement that you had to declare
your intention one year before you could
register.
Now, I was in favor of getting rid of
that and we did get rid of the declaration
of intention, and so that left it where you
did not have to declare your intention, but
all you had to do was to be here perma-
nently and genuinely residing here in the
State for one year. Then you were entitled
to go out and register and then if you
wanted to remove to another district, you
could get registered in the new district six
months after you removed and get your
name taken off the books.
I think six months in the new county is
little enough requirement, and I do hope
that this amendment prevails.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Ross.
DELEGATE KOSS: The present re-
quirement of one year and six months, if
my memory serves me correctly, was es-
tablished by the Constitution of 1851, based
on the fact that in 1851 it was felt that
that period of time was necessary to be-
come familiar with the issues and the
|
offices that were to be decided in any
election.
Certainly nobody can argue that the
methods of communication, of informing
people, the educational level and all those
things have not since changed to the point
where that length of time seems no longer
necessary to insure intelligent voting.
The trend generally in the states that
have been revising their constitutions has
been to reduce the residence requirements.
The Committee studied the present consti-
tutional requirements and on the basis of
long deliberations, decided they should in-
deed be reduced, and that six months in the
State, and three months in the House of
Delegates district, were enough to insure
that people would indeed be informed and
would be able to cast their votes meaning-
fully.
We urge your rejection of this amend-
ment.
THE CHAIRMAN : Is there any further
discussion?
(There was no response.)
Are you ready for the question?
(Call for the question.)
The Clerk will ring the quorum bell. The
question arises on the adoption of Amend-
ment No. 10 to Committee Recommenda-
tion S&E-2. A vote Aye is a vote in favor
of Amendment No. 10. A vote No is a vote
against.
Cast your votes.
Has every delegate voted? Does any del-
egate desire to change his vote?
(There was no response.)
The Clerk will record the vote.
There being 30 votes in the affirmative
and 75 in the negative, the motion is lost.
The amendment is rejected.
Delegate Hardwicke, do you no longer
desire to offer your amendment AG?
DELEGATE HARDWICKE: I do not
at this time, Mr. Chairman. I wonder
whether, if the subject matter to which it
relates should come up before completion
of the consideration of this section, I could
offer it then.
THE CHAIRMAN: This is the last
amendment, of which the Chair has any
knowledge, dealing with this section. This
is section 1.
|
