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A state law passed in 1882 modified previous registration laws
by calling for two sets of registry books for each Baltimore election
precinct. A preliminary set was to list names and other personal
information relating to all persons applying for voting privileges;
those individuals who failed to meet specified requirements were noted
as such in the books along with the reasons why. Final registration
volumes were to contain only the names and addresses of voters
approved by the officers of registration. Voter registration in
Baltimore is currently conducted in a similar fashion except a single
board of registration is appointed for the entire city by the
supervisors of elections.
Records Summary
These records, much like the tax records (RG 4), are grouped
together more out of their similarity than a common administrative
origin. In terms of their content, the records are for the most part
incomplete. The potential value of the materials for research varies
widely among the different series.
Perhaps the most useful material in this record group is the
1868 Police Census (series 9). This apparently is a record of a
population survey conducted by the Police Department as part of their
effort to readjust ward and precinct boundaries. It is believed that
the census was never completed; in any event, information about some
20,000 city residents living in six wards is available. For each
person listed, details are provided about their name, street address,
age, sex, race, country of birth, occupation, religion, and
naturalization status. Arrangement of the census is by ward and
precinct.
A second type of record - the Baltimore City Poll Books
(Registration) (series 4) - also contain much useful information.
Records dating from 1838, 1839, 1877, and 1879 list the names of each
qualified voter with their address, voting dates, whether housekeeper
or lodger, and name of landlord. Particulars effecting registration
status such as removal from district, death, legal age, and
naturalization occasionally appear as well. An 1868 volume provides
only names of qualified voters. Preliminary registration volumes
dating from 1882 to 1887 and 1889 have applicant's name; whether sworn
or affirmed; age; place of birth; residence; time of residence in
Baltimore, ward of registration, and precinct of registration;
naturalization information; and reasons for disqualification, if
applicable. Final rag^strati^u volumes for 1889 list only the names
and addresses of qualified voters. All records dating from 1877 and
after are very incomplete.
The earliest materials are the Baltimore City Poll Books
(series 3), dating form 1804 to 1889, and the Baltimore County Poll
Books (series 5), dating from 1803 to 1888. Each of these series
contains thousands of volumes arranged by city wards or county
districts. And while both are complete up to the mid 1840s, they
reveal no information beyond the names of people who voted in a
specific year and occasional statistical tabulations of election
returns. (The records for Baltimore County are presumably the
duplicate copies submitted to the Baltimore City Court).
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