Registration Officer Commission
Historical
Identifier:
2013.24.2March 17 – April 8 1891
Description
Commission to appoint Niels Peter Jeppesen as Deupty Registration Officer for the Mantua Precinct. The commission is signed by A.B. Williams (acting Chairman) and Elijah Sells (Secretary of the Territory and Ex Officio Secretary of the Commission). The Registration Officer was responsible for voter registration.The certificate references "An Act to amend Section 5352 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, in reference to bigamy, and for other purposes." The reverse includes a sworn statement from Niels Peter Jeppesen that he has only one wife (Anna Jeppesen), and that he will support the Constitution of the United States, especially the amended Section 5352. It bears A.H. Snow's notary seal and signature.
Such registration officers were mandated by rules the Utah Commission adopted after the Edmunds Act. Those registering to vote had to swear the same anti-bigamy oath included on the back.
More on the Edmunds Act and the duties and appointment of registration officers;http://www.archive.org/stream/edmundsactreport00unitrich/edmundsactreport00unitrich_djvu.txt
Related people
Jeppesen, Niels Peter (is referenced)Jeppesen, Anna (is referenced)
Snow, A.H. (is referenced)