CONDENSED ABSENTEE VOTER LAWS FOR NINE STATES

A summary of the "absentee voters" laws as condensed by the "Absentee voters" Committee of the Harding-Coolidge Club of Harvard, which applies to the following states: Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin; is given below. In other states no provision is made for voting other than in person.

In the above mentioned states, a duly registered voter who will be absent from his home on the day of election, may, vote by mail. However, it is required that each voter who expects to be absent shall procure from the Secretary of his State a certain specific form on which to make application for an "absentee voter" ballot. The Harding-Coolidge Club of Harvard has arranged to have a number of these applications sent to them at once and will soon have them on hand at their office in the CRIMSON building, where the voters of the University may sign them. Then as soon as the "absentee voter" ballots have been received, the club will provide, without any expense to the voter, a notary public who will witness the marking of the ballot. All men who will be absent from their homes on the day of the election, should sign their applications as soon as possible, as the ballots themselves have to be in ten days before the election in most states. The summary of the laws follows:

Massachusetts.

1. Qualifications: A citizen, 21 years of age, able to read English and to write his name. He must be a resident of the state for one year, a city or town for six months. A change of residence within the state does not bar from voting in the town from which the voter removed until 6 months after such removal. 2. Registration: Automatic of all who paid poll tax and who were known to be residents on April 1 of last year. All others to be registered, must prove residence in person by October 13 in all cities including Boston, and in all towns by Saturday, October 20. 3. Absentee voters: Any voter absent on election day who applies in advance to the Secretary of the Commonwealth or to any city or town clerk for application blank for a ballot and sends it within time to reach voting place before it closes, can vote by mail.

New York.

1. Qualifications: To vote one must be 21 years of age; a resident of the state for 1 year, of the county 4 months, and election district for 30 days. 2. Registration: Must be in person in cities of over 5000. Registration from Monday, October 4 up to, and including October 30 in New York City. In other cities of 5000, on October 15 and 16. 3. Absentee voters: A qualified voter unavoidably absent may vote by mail. Application for ballot in the form of an affidavit must be received not later than October 16. Form of the affidavit is set forth in the law. Ballot will be mailed if requested.

Ohio.

1. Qualifications: Citizen 21 years of age, a resident of the state one year, county 30 days, and of the voting precinct 20 days before election. One does not lose his residence by going out of the state temporarily with the intention of returning. 2. Registration: May register by affidavit sent to the Clerk of the Board of Deputy State Supervisors of his city, stating his residence and giving his ward and precinct, and that he will be absent therefrom on all days allowed by law for the registration of electors in such precinct and filling this statement with the above named officer. 3. Absentee voters: Must write the Clerk of the Board of Deputy State Supervisors of his county not later than October 30 nor before October 3 stating fact of his unavoidable absence on election day from his precinct. Clerk will send an "absentee voter's" ballot accompanied by instructions.

New Jersey.

1. Qualifications: Citizen 21 years of age and resident of state 1 year, and county five months immediately preceding the election. 2. Registration: Must be made in person unless ill or unavoidably absent on registration day, in which case may register by affidavit. County boards meet October 28 and 29 to revise list and if not registered before, and can prove that a reasonable effort to do so was made, they will have you registered. The registration boards met last on October 12. 3. Absentee voters: Anyone absent on election day may vote by application to clerk in any municipality other than the county seats of counties of the first class, and in all municipalities of counties other than the first class. Application must be made not later than October 18. Forms will be mailed on request.

Illinois.

1. Qualifications: Citizen 21 years of age and resident of state 1 year, county 90 days, and of election district 30 days immediately preceding the election. A residence is a permanent abode. 2. Registration: On Tuesday three weeks before the election, the registry board meets and puts on the list all those on the poll-list of last year, and in addition anyone whom they know are residents of the district. This list is revised on October 26. In counties of the third class this list is revised on October 11. 3. Absentee voters: Any voter who expects to be away from the county where he is a duly qualified voter on election day, in the course of his business or employment may vote by mail if he is a duly registered voter. He must apply not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days prior to the election, to the county clerk or other officers charged with the duty of furnishing applications for his voting precinct for an official ballot. The ballot and application will contain full instructions. Application for ballots will be furnished upon letter.

Iowa.

1. Qualifications: Citizen 21 years old, resident of state 6 months, county 60 days, and precinct 10 days. 2. Registration: Absentee voters accomplish registration through the affidavit upon their ballot envelopes. 3. Absentee voters: Any qualified voter, duly registered, where registration is required who will be absent on election day through the nature of his business may vote by mail. Application on regular form for a ballot must be sent in not more than 15 nor less than 3 days before election to county auditor or to the city or town clerk.

Michigan.

1. Qualifications: Citizen 21 years of age, resident of the state six months, and township or ward for 20 days. No elector shall be deemed to have gained or to have lost a residence by reason of his having been employed in the service of the United States, or while a student of any university of learning. 2. Registration: The last registration day is October 16 except in towns under 10,000 which have until October 23. But upon affidavit by an elector showing that he was unable to register by reason of absence or sickness prior thereto, such person may register on election day and vote. 3. Absentee voters: Any person who is in attendance at an institution of learning or a person who because of his business will be absent on election day, may vote by mail. Application for ballot must be on special form and must be sent in not after October 31 nor before October 3. Directions are on application form and ballot.

Minnesota.

1. Qualifications: Citizen 21 years old, resident of state 6 months, of election district 30 days. No student loses residence because of attendance at any seminary of learning. Residents of cities of the first, second, or third class must register to vote. They may do it by affidavit, but it must be done by October 23 in cities of the first class. 2. Absentee voters: Any person absent on election day may vote by mail provided that, in the case of his being a resident of a city of the first, second, or third class, he is duly registered. The form on which to apply for a ballot is special and must be sent in not before October 3 nor later than October 25.

Wisconsin.

1. Qualifications: Citizen 21 years old, resident of state for one year and of election district for 10 days. Registration: In every city, incorporated village, and which according to the last previous census had a population of 5000 or more, a registration is required whenever a general election is held. The board enters the names of all those who registered for the last municipal and general election and all whom the board knows are qualified to vote. The last meeting of the board will be held October 25. 3. Absentee voters. Can apply by mail for an application of special form. Apply to county clerk. Applications must be mailed between October 13 and 30. In cities of the first class, the application is mailed to the Secretary of the Board of Election Commissioners.