Opinion letter to the Honorable James P. Landis

Opinion No . 4 answered bY letter by Howard L. McFadden Pebrua~ 21, 1962 Honorable James P. Landis Representative, Newton County 605 West Hickory Street Neosho, Missouri Dear Mr. Landis: ) This is in response to your reQuest for an opini on which reads as follows: "I respectfully reQuest your opinion as to whether, in view of the changed character of use of Port Crowder and the fact that it is no longer being operated as an army camp, Port Crowder residents are now entitled to exercise the right to vote in state and county elections.'' The United States accepted this land by cession from this state under the statutory provisions which are now 12.040, RSMo 1959, as a military reservation. Within this statute is a proviso that the Jurisdiction ceded to the United States continue no longer than the period during which the land ceded is used for the purpose or purposes for which it is ac~uired. If a fact ual determination can be made on a local level that any part of the ar~a in question is no longer used for military purposes, either temporarily or permanently, then by virtue of the stat ute cited, exclusive Jurisdiction therein is no longer in the United States and the Jurisdiction of the state has revested. In such case persons residing in theae areas may acquire the status of electors if otherwise qualified. HLM: BJ Yours very t~y, TRCiiAs F. !Xcmttotl Att orney General