Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-07-26
GENERAL ELECTION LAW.

An Act to Preserve the Purity Of Elections.
SECTION. /. Be it enacted by the General As
senabty of the State Of lara, That no person shall
be entitled to vote at any general or township
election who is insane or an idiot, or has been
convicted of an infamous crime, nor unless he is
a white male citizen of the United States, Of the
age of twenty-one years or upwards, and shall
have been resident of the State for six months,
and of the country in which he claims his vote
for twenty days next preceding such election.
SEC. 2. Persons employed on board of steam
boats or other water crafts, are subject to the
same rules, and can only vote in the township
which respectively contain their fixed and per-
manent home. rs
Sec. 3. Any person who shall vote more
than once at the same election, or who shall vote
at any election, knowing himself not qualified
thus to vote, shall, upon conviction, be fined not
less than one hundred nor more than one thou
sand dollars, and be imprisoned in the county
Jail not less than one month, nor more than six
months.
SEC 4. Any person who shall advise, assist,
or induce another to vote twice at the same cleo
ton, or to give his vote knowing him not enti-
tied to do so, shall receive the same punishment
as above provided for the principal offender.
Sec. 5. Any person who by bribery shall
attempt to influence any elector in giving his
vote, or who shall use any threat, to compel
such elector to vote contrary to his inclination,
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shall furnish an eector who cannot read, with
ticket informing him that it contains name or
names different from those which are written or
printed thereon, with an intent to induce him to
vote contrary to his inclination, or who shall
fraudulently or deceitfully change the ballot of
any elector by which he shall be caused to vote
for person different from the one intended by
such elector, shall, on conviction thereof, be
punished in the same manner as is above proyi-
ded for persons who vote twice at the same cleo
ton.
Sec. 6. ANY judge of election who shall
mark the ballot of an elector for the purpose of
ascertaining for whom the elector voted, or open
and read the ballot of any elector after it has
been given in, and before it shall have been de-
posted in the ballot box, shall, on conviction
thereof, be fined not less than one hundred, nor
more than one thousand dollars.
SEC. Z. Except in the cases hereinafter pro-
vlded, II any person offering to vote is challenged
as unqualified, one of the judges of the election
shall tender to him the following oath or affir-
mation "You do swear Cor afiirm) that you
will fully and truly answer all such questions as
shall be put to you touching your qualifications
as an elector at this election.
Sec. 8. Such person may then be interro-
gated by either of the judges of the election
by any elector, touching his qualifications.
Sec. 9. If, after such examination, the chal-
lenge be not withdrawn, one of the Judges of
election shall tender to the elector the following
oath: You do solemnly swear Cor aflirm) that
yon are citizen of the United States, of the age
OF tWenty-one years, that you have been an in
habtant of this State for six months next pre-
ceding this election, and that you have been for
the last twenty days resident of this county.
that You are now an actual resident of this town
ship, and that you have not voted at this election
Sec. 10. If any person shall refuse to take
the oath or affirmation so rendered his vote shall
be rejected.
Sec. IL. If the vote be challenged on the
ground that the person offering to vote has been
convicted OF an Infamous crime, he may be sworn
and examined as above provided for. and to the
hnal oath above prescribed in section nine, the
following words shall be added, 6: and that you
nave never been convicted of an infamous crime:''
Pror,dcd, That conviction for political offences
under the laws of foreign States shall not be
deemed conviction within the meaning of this
act.
DEC. X whenever any persons vote shall be
received after he shall have taken the oath above
prescrlbed IN section nine, the clerks of the cleo
ton shall write On the poll books at the end of
such PERSONS name, the word sworn"
SEC. IS. If, after perse~ shall be sworn
and examined above provided, ,le Judges of
election shall believe him not qualified 10 vote.
they shaii 81 advise him. bat If after such advice
he shall still determined to vote, and will take the
final oath as provided in this act, his vote shall
be received.
SEC. ID. Wiful and corrupt false swearing,
in taking either of the oaths above prescribed
shall be perjury.
Sec. 10. Any person who. before or after the
proclamation is made for opening the polls, shall
fraudulently put ticket or ballot into the ballot
box, shall be punished in the same manner as is
above provided for voting twice at the same
election.
Sec. 10. That at all elections, when the
names of the respective candidates are mis-spel-
ed either by votes or otherwise, the Judges of
election shall have power, and it is hereby made
their duty, TO decide for whom the vote is given:
Prorided, said names have the same sound.
SEC: II. Any judge of election who shall
wiiulIy and corruptly violate his duty as herein
before prescribed, shall be fined not less than one
hundred, nor more than one thousand dollars,
and shall be imprisoned in the county Jail, not
less than one month nor more than six months.
Sec. lS. All prosecutions under this act shall
be by indictment in the District Court of the
proper county.
Sec. 19. This act is only intended to repeal
such provisions of former statutes as are incon-
sistent with those herein contained.
Sec. 20. This act shall be in force from and
after the first day of July next.
Approved, January Is, ls4s.