ousness of their offenses against society. Paupers are deprived of it, because they are a charge and a burden on the State. Idiots are not granted it, because they cannot comprehend its object or meaning and do not understand how to use it.

Polygamy is proscribed in all States and Territories under the laws relating to bigamy, and in each of the several States the penalty for bigamy, which is among the crimes classed as infamous, carries with it disfranchisement. The practice of polygamy among the Mormons in Utah, under cover of their religious faith and in open defiance of the anti-bigamy laws of the United States, resulted in the passage by Congress of a special act depriving polygamists of the right to vote or to hold public office in the Territories, or anywhere under the Federal Government (1).

In some States, persons who have engaged as principals or accessories in a duel are not entitled to vote at any election. In other States, the lack of taxable property or of a specific degree of education, disqualifies a citizen from the right of voting. Insufficient residence is a bar to voting in all States and Territories. And, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2004 of the Revised Statutes, the several States have the power to deny (1) "That no polygamist, bigamist or any person cohabiting with more than one woman, and no woman cohabiting with any of the persons described as aforesaid in this section, in any Territory or other place over which the United States have exclusive jurisdiction, shall be entitled to vote at any election held in such Territory or other place or be eligible for election or appointment to, or be entitled to hold any office or place of public trnst, honor or emolument in, under, and for any such Territory or place, or under the United States."-Act of March 22, 1882. 22 Ú. S. Stats., Ch. 47, Sec. 8. p. 31.

the right of suffrage to any citizen of the United States on account of age, sex, place of birth, vocation, want of property or intelligence, neglect of civic duties, crime, or other causes not specified in the Fifteenth Amendment of the Federal Constitution (1), and this power has been exercised by some of them. An examination of the voting qualifications established by the several States, will show that there are many perplexing differences between them now existing, out of which serious complications and irregularities have sprung.

I.—VOTING QUALIFICATIONS IN THE SEVERAL STATES.

The several States, in their respective relations to the right of suffrage, may be classified as follows:

I. States restricting the suffrage to male citizens of the United States.

2. States restricting it to male citizens of the United States and male persons of foreign birth who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States.

3. States restricting it to "male citizens of the State." States restricting it to "male citizens." States restricting it to "male inhabitants."

4.

5.

(1) 1 Sawyer, 374.

6. States granting it to "all citizens of the United States."

7. States granting it to "male citizens," or to "male citizens of the United States," or to "male citizens of the United States and male aliens who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States," under special limitations.

In each of these classifications, the enjoyment of the franchise is dependent, however, on age and residence qualifications (1).

CLASS I.

II. NEW JERSEY,

I. CALIFORNIA, 6. MAINE,

2. FLORIDA,

3. IDAHO,

4. ILLINOIS,

5. IOWA,

7. MARYLAND, 12. OHIO,

8. MISSISSIPPI, 13. SOUTH CAROLINA, 9. MONTANA, 14. VERMONT,

IO. NEVADA,

Constitutional provisions of

15. WASHINGTON.

States whose qualified

voters are "male citizens of the United States."

(1) The legal age of twenty-one has been adopted by all States as the age qualification of an elector. But there is a great difference be ween the several States as to residence qualification. In twenty-nine States, the residence qualification is fixed at one year. These States are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania (native or former electors of this State, who have been absent and returned, six months), Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. In ten of them the term of residence is fixed at six months. These States are Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon and South Dakota. In Maine and Michigan, the term of residence to qualify as an elector is placed at three months; in Minnesota, at four months; in Kentucky, at two years; but in New Hampshire no time is specified, proof that he is an inhabitant being sufficient.

CALIFORNIA.

Citizens of Mexico, resident in California for one year after its acquisition by the United States, acquired citizenship in the United States under the provisions of the Treaty of Queretaro.

*ARTICLE I.

SEC. 24. No property qualification shall ever be required for any person to vote or hold office.

ARTICLE II.

SECTION 1. Every male citizen of the United States, every male person who shall have acquired the rights of citizenship under or by virtue of the treaty of Queretaro, and every male naturalized citizen thereof, who shall have become such ninety days prior to any election, of the age of twenty-one years, who shall have been a resident of the State one year next preceding the election, and of the county in which he claims his vote ninety days, and in the election precinct sixty days, shall be entitled to vote at all elections which are now or which may hereafter be authorized by law; provided, no native of China, no idiot, insane person, or person convicted of any infamous crime, and no person hereafter convicted of the embezzlement or misappropriation of public money, shall ever exercise the privilege of an elector in this State. For the purposes of voting, no person shall be deemed to have gained or lost a residence by reason of his presence or his absence while employed in the service of the United States; nor while engaged in the navigation of the waters of this State, or of the United States; or of the high seas; nor while a student at any seminary of learning; nor while kept in any almshouse or other asylum, at public expense; nor while confined in any public prison.

SEC. 4.

ARTICLE XIX.

SEC. 4. The presence of foreigners ineligible to become citizens of the United States is declared to be dangerous to the well-being of the State, and the Legislature shall discourage their immigration by all the means within its power.

***

ARTICLE XX.

SEC. 2. Any citizen of this State who shall, after the adoption of this Constitution, fight a duel with deadly weapons, or send or accept a challenge to *Const. of California, 1879.

fight a duel with deadly weapons, either within this State or out of it, or who shall act as second, or knowingly aid or assist in any manner those thus offending, shall not be allowed to hold any office of profit, or to enjoy the right of suffrage under this Constitution.

SEC. II. Laws shall be made to exclude from office, serving on juries, and from the right of suffrage, persous convicted of bribery, perjury, forgery, malfeasance in office, or other high crimes. The privilege of free suffrage shall be supported by laws regulating elections, and prohibiting, under adequate penalties, all undue influence thereon from power, bribery, tumult, or other improper practice.

SEC. 12. Absence from this State, on business of the State or of the United States, shall not affect the question of residence of any person.

FLORIDA.

*ARTICLE VI.

SECTION 1. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, that shall, at the time of registration, be a citizen of the United States, or that shall have declared his intention to become such in conformity to the laws of the United States, and that shall have resided and had his habitation, domicile, home and place of permanent abode in Florida for one year, and in the county for six months, shall in such county be deemed a qualified elector at all elections under this Constitution.

SEC. 2. The Legislature, at its first session after the ratification of this Constitution, shall provide by law for the registration of all the legally qualified voters in each county, and for the returns of elections; and shall also provide that after the completion, from time to time, of such registration, no person not duly registered according to law shall be allowed to vote (1).

SEC. 3. Every elector shall, at the time of his registration, take and subscribe to the following oath: "I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Florida, that I am twenty-one years of age, and have been a resident of the State of Florida for twelve months and of this county for six months, and I am qualified to vote under the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida." SEC. 4. No person under guardianship, non compos mentis or insane, shall be allowed to vote at any election, nor shall any person convicted of felony by a court of record be qualified to vote at any election unless restored to civil rights.

(*) Constitution of Florida, 1885.

(1) Act adopted June 7, 1887.