To make it possible for Baltimore’s 15,000 Jewish voters to cast their ballots in the Fall election and still observe their religious holidays, a petition requesting Governor Ritchie to take steps to change the dates of registration is being circulated throughout synagogues and Jewish organizations of the city. The petition is being distributed by Melvin L. Fine, member of the House of Delegates from the Fourth Legislative District, who hopes to obtain more than 5,000 names.
Saying the situation will result in a “practical disfranchisement” to thousands of Jewish voters, the petition urges the Governor to “take such steps as may be necessary to change the registration dates in Baltimore so that the Jewish people of the city may be afforded ample opportunity to have their names placed on the registration books.”
The four registration days falling on important holidays, Rosh Hashonah and Succoth, Jews of both the Reform and Orthodox sects will be unable to register if they conform strictly to their religion.
The contingency was pointed out to Willis R. Jones, Assistant Attorney-General, who returned an opinion that the situation could be remedied only by an act of the legislature. Rosh Hashonah will fall on September 23 and 24 and Succoth on October 7 and 8.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
