Series 304

UTAH COMMISSION [1249]

ELECTION OFFICERS' COMMISSIONS REGISTER, 1882-1884.
0.6 cu. ft. (1 vol.)

DESCRIPTION: The Utah Commission was created in 1882 under the Edmunds Law , a law enacted by the U.S. Congress to define punishment for polygamy and unlawful cohabitation in the territories. Disqualifying polygamists as voters and office holders was among the penalties of the law. Further, a federally appointed commission took charge of elections, as specified in Section 9 of the law:

That all the registration and election offices of every description in the Territory of Utah are hereby declared vacant, and each and every duty relating to the registration of voters, the conduct of elections, the receiving or rejection of votes, and the canvassing and returning of the same, and the issuing of certificates or other evidence of election in said Territory, shall, until other provision be made by the Legislative Assembly of said Territory as is hereinafter by this section provided, be performed under the existing laws of the United States and of said Territory by proper persons, who shall be appointed to execute such offices and perform such duties by a board of five persons, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, not more than three of whom shall be members of one political party; and a majority of whom shall be a quorum. [An amendment of 5350 U.S.C., in Compiled Laws of Utah, I. Salt Lake City, Herbert Pembroke Printer, 1888, 110-113]

This volume contains a record of commissions issued by the Utah Commission to registration and elections officers, specifically registrars and judges of elections. There are columns in which are recorded the person's name, title of office, precinct, county, and date of commission.

The rear of the book also contains a list of certificates of election issued to winners of municipal elections held in 1883. This section has the same categories, with the name of the city appearing in the precinct column.

ARRANGEMENT: There is a block of entries for commissions and a block for certificates of election. Entries are primarily chronological then clustered by the type of office and location.

RELATED RECORDS: The Utah Commission also kept minute books, letter books, and financial registers. The Secretary of State's office has bonds, certificates, and oaths of election for the same 1882-1884 period in the ELECTION PAPERS, Series 364.

PROCESSING NOTE: The papers of the Utah Commission were acquired by the Utah State Archives in 1957. Processed by A.C. Cone, 1989.