oldiers nor owners of a certain
amount of property, and persons convicted of serious crime, unless
pardoned, are disqualified from voting.
REGISTRATION.--Before a citizen can become entitled to vote he is
required to register. On the first day of January of every year the
tax collector opens a voters' book in which every person wishing to
vote subscribes his name, showing that he is entitled to vote. From
this book the tax collector prepares a list of registered voters of the
county, which he files with the county registrars. The county
registrars are appointed by the Judge of the Superior Court for a term
of two years. The county registrars take this list and compare it with
the list of disqualified voters prepared by the tax collector, the
ordinary, and the clerk of the Superior Court, and from the two prepare
a final list of registered voters. Only those whose names appear on
the list of voters prepared by the registrars, are entitled to vote.
On or before the hour for opening the election a copy of the list of
registered voters is furnished the election managers. All elections
are presided over by three superintendents. Votes are cast by ballot.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.--The Executive Department of the State consists
of the Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and
Comptroller-General. Their powers and duties were originally vested in
the Governor and his Council, but now the duties of each office are
separate and distinct.
They are elected for a term of two years by the people of the State, at
the same time the members of the Legislature are elected. The
qualifications for these offices are: twenty-five years of age (for
Governor thirty), a citizen of the United States ten years (for
Governor fifteen), and of the State six years.
The _Governor_ is commander in chief of the army and naval forces of
the State. He has revision of all bills passed by the General
Assembly, and, a two-thirds majority in each house is necessary to pass
a bill over his disapproval. The Governor can commute sentences, and
grant pardons to criminals, except in cases of treason or impeachment.
He is empowered to fill many important offices by appointment. He
issues commissions to all officers in the State. He may issue
proclamations of rewards for the apprehension of criminals. He reports
to the Legislature on the financial condition of the State, and gives
suggestions as to any general law that should be passed.
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