SOLDIER VOTE

With the provisions made by the past Legislature for taking care of the soldier vote, there was but little confusion in the casting of same or in the canvassing by the various Boards of Inspectors throughout the State. With the pasters used and with the explanations furnished the soldiers there was little or no opportunity for misunderstanding. Furthermore, inasmuch as the intention of the voter was recognized, rather than the technicality in marking the ballot there was no opportunity for void ballots. Every vote cast by the soldier was counted for the candidate or candidates such soldier apparently intended voting for.

As a means of preventing unscrupulous persons voting on the names of those who are either in France or at the various cantonments throughout the country, I had cards printed, fac-simile of which is shown below. These cards were used by my deputies in making investigations and where a man had been drafted and was at one of the cantonments his name was placed on the challenge list from the Election and Assembly district where he formerly resided. In this manner the Board of Inspectors' work was simplified and a soldier could not vote twice in consequence thereof, as provision was made at the various cantonments for every soldier vote; also elections were held on different days and not on Election Day, and a soldier presenting himself to vote on Election Day naturally could give no reason for not having exercised his right of franchise from the camp to which he was assigned unless he had been discharged for physical disability, in which event a certificate attesting to that fact was shown to the Board of Inspectors. The following list shows the number of Soldier Votes cast by counties at the past general election.

INSTRUCTIONS

In making investigations, if deputies find person whose name appears on opposite side of card not actually living on the premises, ascertain all information possible where such person is at present located. Enter this information under report of investigation on reverse side of card. If still a resident of the premises make report to that effect and endeavor to find out if he intends to remain until after registration days. Get any additional information you think of value to the office.

The service department within my Department has assumed proportions unthought of within the last year. Its latitude has extended to the boundary lines of the United States and the service rendered by the historical card record on file has made it invaluable to the Department as a preventative of fraud and to

the general public as an information bureau par excellence. Since the declaration of war these records have been the means of exposing slackers in the true sense of the word: persons who failed to register, giving as an excuse over age; those called for physical examination, but failed to appear, deserters from the Army and Navy, and even in one instance Chinamen implicated in the Tong war which raged in the Chinese quarter.

The Department of Justice of the United States, the Intelligence Bureau, the Army and Navy Intelligence Departments, the Comptroller of the State of New York, the Attorney-General's office, local and district exemption boards consulted these records daily during the past nine months. It further developed that many persons failing to register on June 5th appeared for voting purposes at polling places during registration week and through information supplied by this Department, a number were apprehended and dealt with according to the law.

Between June 1, 1917, and December 31, 1917, 2,433 inquiries were submitted by the Child Welfare Board for the purpose of ascertaining the citizenship of deceased parents; 186 inquiries were received from the Adjutant General's office for the purpose of locating persons sought for in connection with the passage of the Conscription Act; 1,207 inquiries were received from the various exemption boards throughout the State for the purpose of attesting to the age of persons who had not registered or who claimed exemption because of age; 139 inquiries were received from the Department of Justice of the United States; 283 inquiries were received from the Post Office Inspectors throughout the country; 168 inquiries were received from the various insurance companies throughout the State; 96 inquiries were received from the State Comptroller's office; 86 from the Corporation Counsel's office; 285 from the Municipal Civil Service Commission; 963 from the District Attorney's office of the County of New York; 385 from the Naval Intelligence Bureau; 358 from the Military Intelligence Bureau, and 1,362 from the attorneys throughout the State of New York.

These records were also used in one of the recent murder trials as evidence to show State jurisdiction.

It can readily be seen from the foregoing facts the value of

this record to the people of the State of New York, its great value depending on the accuracy of its compilation, and it might be well to call attention to the enormous amount of work there is in connection with keeping such record up-to-date and accurate, when the large voting population is taken into consideration. This record means that the entire voting career of a person is minutely kept on a card filed in alphabetical and directory order, and changes made yearly, so that even when a person changes his residence this is noted, and at a moment's notice the voting record of every citizen of the State of New York can be produced.

After the passage of the Conscription Act and prior to its approval by the President, the following communication was addressed to all Boards of Elections and Sheriffs throughout the State of New York for the purpose of having prepared in advance the necessary facilities for taking care of the registration of June 5, 1917:

STATE OF NEW YORK

STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTIONS

Superintendent

FREDERICK L. MARSHALL

Chief Deputy AUGUSTUS F. ALLEN

SIRS. Under the Federal Act provided for raising additional army troops, which was passed by Congress on Saturday last and which will be approved by the President immediately after a conference of the Senate and House committees, a proclamation will be issued requiring all males of military age to register on a certain date a short time after the date of the proclamation.

I have been requested by the Governor, through his Adjutant General, to communicate with you regarding the plan announced by the War Department. This plan provides for the appointment of Registration Boards in each county, consisting of the Sheriff, the County Clerk, and a Medical Officer. These Registration Boards will be required to establish registration depots in each voting district so designated. The announced plan contemplates that such service rendered by Boards, Registrars, Registration Clerks, etc., will be entirely voluntary, and the Governor is anxious that we, in this State, should be able to carry it out upon such basis and to so notify the Sheriff. The bill which was passed by Congress contains the following provision: