Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-01-26
OHIO LEGISLATURE.
in SENATE.

PURITY OF ELECTIONS.

.fourth section, (which allows judges when
snoaoed IN The duties Of their office TO
vote vutof their own cOunties.) Ii
Ma Hazeltine opposed the motion TO
sidke out. No good reason had, in his
opinion, been offered for doing so. Il
The fourth section was then stricken ,
out. Ii
Mr. Faren then moved as an amend
ynent in lieu Of the 4th section, that
"Each electOr shall, in full view of the
people assembled at the polls, when he
eoes to vote, deliver to one tho judges
OF elections, a single ballot, or piece Of
paper, on which shall be written or print
ed the names Of the person or persons
voted for, wilhthe designation Of the Of
Gee he or they are intended 10 fI; but
no eleclor shall vote except in the town.
shin in which he resides"
Mr.. Faun said he had known cases in
which the judges had taken ballots at a
distance from The polls; and he had heard
ofinstances Of the judges going 10 vo.
ter's house 10 receive his ballot. If this
were allowed, the ballots might be chang.
ed; hut # delivered in presence of the
people, this would be effeciually preven-
ted. If every person was obliged to vote
in his own township, he would vote
where il was well known whether he
was qualified or not 1t was not hard
for man to 90 home once or twice a
year. -.
Mr.. Utter suggested that "Or ward"
be inserted after township.
Mr. Faran accepted the suggestion as
a mod,fcaiio Of his amendment.
Mr.. CroWell thought it was needless
tax TO make person 60 home TO vote.
lie should propose an amendment to
allow persons absent from their town.
ships on The business of their trade or
occupation TO vote in other townships Of
their counties.
Mr.. Utter said, il 10 vote was worth
anything, il was worth going to the
township where the voter was known.
The law allowing one TO vote ont Of his
township, operated as an inducenent ia
go out for that purpose. There were
but few men who could not make ar
rangements to be in their own townships
on election days.
Mr.. CrOwel then proposed his amend
ment that nothing in this section shaI
be so construed as preventing any per
son from voting ia any other township
in the county in which he shall actually
be engaged in the business Of his occu
natinn. trade. Or nrufession'
Mr.. Faran. The reason The gentleman
frnm Trumbull (Mr. CrowelI) gives E.
allowing persons TO vote Oui Of theiI
townships in tho same county, will ap
ply equally we'll 10 allowing them to vote
our Of their counties, when in The same
congressional districts. TER business
might even call them into other States
they were there from necessity. If tn
argument Of the gentiemal is TO prevail
why moi in that case allow them 70 depu
tize some one to hand in their votps3
ThN,sday, Jan. II, ASH.
The Senate resolved itself into com
mittee oflhe whole, on the bill 10 pre-
serve The purity Of elections. Mr.. Leon
ard in the chair. The question being OF
amending the 5lh section, which reads a
follows
"SEC. 5. Any person who shall voi'
10 any township or ward in which h
does not actually reside, shall, on con
victiOn thereof, he imprisoned in lht
penIlenliary and kept at hard labor no
more than three years nor less than ont
year." SO as 10 strike ont all after "lhere
af," and insert ''be imprisoned in III,
county Jail for ninety days, aud he fed OF
bread aud water, and hs forever barre
oflhe right Of sufrage"-
Mr.. Faran called for division Of III,
question.
The motion to strike out then pre-
vailed.
M. Fann then moved 10 insert, as
section before the 9Th section,
"AOy person being an inhabiiant o
this Slaie, who shall go or come int,
any county Of This Slate and attempt I,
vUte IN such cOunty, knowing he is no
qualified, OF shall knowingly vote in AM
county in which he is not resident, shalt
on conviction, thereof, be imprisoned ii
the Peniteniiary for term Of mot more
than Eve years, nor less than one year;'
And The mbliOn prevailed.
The committee proceeded 10 Conside
the following section:
"SEc. 6. Any person who shall vote
more than, once at the same elscllnn
eitheEin the same or any other county
shall, on conviction thereof. be imprison
edi the penitentiary and kept at har
l'bOF mol more than Ave years nor les
ihin one yeW."
Mf.'NAsh moved to strike out oil aIte
tho word "ihefeOf." He said the pur
isllmeni prescribed was too severe.
Mf. Taylor 'Agued, that the punisE
mentwas not dispmpOr,iona,e 10 the 3
fence. Hg contended that the o(Tenc
was one Of high grade, and ought 10 i
punished severely.
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