Star.
London, England, 1830-07-24 00:00:00

ELECTIONS.

ISSUING WRITS UNDER A GENERAL ELECTION.
Upon summoning a new Parliament, a warrant, signed by his
Majesty, is issued to the Lord Chancellor, commanding him .to
issue so many writs as have been usual for the purpose of calling a
new Parliament. Such writs are accordingly made out by the Clerk
of the Crown. Upon the calling of every new Parliament, forty
days shall elapse between the teste and the return of the writ.
FREEDOM OF ELECTIONS.
According to the Act Bth Oeo. 11. cap. 30, as often as then
shall be an election of any Scotch Peer or Members to serve
In Parliament, the Secretary at War shall send proper orders, in
writing, for the removal of soldiers to the distance of two or more
miles from the place of election, who shall not make any nearer
approach to such place until one day at least after the poll shall
be ended, and the poll.books closed. Any Secretary at War, or
person officiating as such, violating this clause, to be discharged
from office and rendered incapable of holding any office under Go-
vernment.

By a resolution of the House passed every session, it is a high
infringement of the liberties and privileges of the Commons for any
Lord of Parliament, or Lord Lieutenant of any county, to concern
themselves in the election of munben of parliament. By another
resolution, it is highly criminal in any Minister or servant of the
Crown, directly or indirectly, to use the powers of office in the
election of representatives to serve in parliament.
Officers of Excise and Customs are, by the Act of William and
Mary, cap. 20. prohibited hunt interfering at elections.
PROCEEDINGS AT ELECTIONS.

By the Act of Henry VL the sheriff is directed, upon the day ap-
pointed for election, to proceed to the hustings, in his full county
state, between eight in the morning and eleven in the forenoon.
By the Act 2 Geo. 11. cap. 24, the proceedings commence by pro.
claiming silence, and then reading the writ of summons hume-
diately after which the sheriff Is to read, or cause to be read, the
whole Act, intituled, " An Act for the more effectually preventing
bribery and Conuption."
ELECTION BY THE VOCES. -
In the first case the determination is either by vows, or show of
hands, or collecting the friends of the respective candidates into se-
parate bodies, or in such other mode as has been customary on such
occasions. The most usual way, however, is by the voices of
the electors, calling out the names of their favourite candidates.
Where such election is, however, not determined by the view, but
a poll shall be required, the Sheriff, or such others as shall by him
be deputed, shall forthwith there proceed to take the poll in some
public place appointed for that purpose. The returning officer, on
request of the candidates, shall appoint persons to administer the
oaths of allegiance.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE POLL.
By the Act 25 Our. 111. cap. 84, it is enacted that every poll
within England, Wales, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, shall com-
mence on the day upon which it shall be demanded, or upon the
next day, at furthest, unless suck day shall be Sunday, and then on
the day after, untill the same shall be finished ; but not to son-
tinue more than 15 days ; and if such poll shall continue until
the 15th day, then the same shall be finally closed, at or before the
hour of three in the afternoon. The poll, unless prevented by un-
avoidable accident, shall be kept open for seven hours in each day,
between eight in the morning and eight at night.
By Act 7 and 8 William 111. the Sheriff shall not adjourn the
place of polling, unless with the consent of the candidates, except in
the case of Chichester, from thence to the Isle of Wight.