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German Elections Fixed for Jewish Festival May Result in Extremist Victory by Depriving Jews of Oppo

September 16, 1931
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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The Democratic State Party and the Social Democratic Party in the Hamburg Free City have lodged a complaint with the Electoral Tribunal against its decision to hold the elections to the Hamburg Parliament and Senate on Sunday, October 4th., which coincides with Simchat Torah, the Festival of the Rejoicing of the Law.

It is contrary to the German Constitution, which guarantees the equality before the law of Protestants, Catholics and Jews, they say, to fix elections on the day of the festival of one of these Communities, so that its members will not be able to go to the polling booth.

The two Republican Parties fear that if the Jews of Hamburg, who are almost wholly numbered among their supporters, are prevented in this way from voting, they will lose at least two Deputies, which may mean an extremist Government in Hamburg. If the Electoral Tribunal does not change the date, they intend to demand the invalidation of the elections.

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