Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-10-25
The Elention Law.

Below Will be found the material pOrClon
of the Election Law, copied from the Statutes
of California, and we call particular attention
to the same 1t is plain, and easily under
stood; and we call upon all good citizeus-
no matter what party they may belong to-
to see that its provisions are observed and
enforced.
1t will be seen that if a vote is challenged,
the first, last, aud only duty of the Inspector
and Judges is to administer the oath prescrib-
ed by the Statute; and if the applicant takes
the oath, they are compelled totoke has rote with-
out asking single question. The Inspector
and Judges have no right, and it will be seen
that the law so declares it, to question the
validity of the oath; they must receive the
vote, and if the applicant swears falsely, he
is liable to be prosecuted and convicted Of
felony.
We have heard that the Know Nothings
in some of the outside precincts will attempt
to have the Inspector and Judges require
court from which they obtained their papers,
&c, &c,-equivalent, and even more than
equivalent, to compelling them to show their
papers-which has been expressly interdicted
by decision of our Supreme Court We
would say to our adopted fellow citizens, ex
anime the oath that is prescribed by Statute,
as found below, and if you can conscientious
" take the oath, do so, and ans,Oer no ether
questions because no living man has the shad
ow of a right to interrogate you after you
have taken the oath Let this be well under
stood.
Examine the Election Law for yourselves,
as follows:
See. % At all elections the polls shall be
opened at eight O'Clock in the morning, and
shall continue open until sunset, at which
time the judges shall close the poles; Provid-
ed, that the judges Of the election may take
a recess; of one hour at any time they may
think proper during the day, before three
o'clock in the afternoon.
Sec 23 The board of judges, before they
commence receiving ballots, shall cause it to
be proclaimed aloud at the place of voting
that the polls are opened
Sec. "a The voting shall be by ballot -
The ballot shall be paper ticket containing
the names OF the persons for whom the eletor
intends to vote, aud designating the office to
which each person SO named is intended by
him to be chosen.
Sec 25 Whenever any person offers to
vote the inspector shall pronounce his name
in an audible voice, and if there be no obec-
ton to the qualification of such person as an
elector, shall receive his ballot, and in the
presence Of the other judges put the same,
without being opened or examined, into the
ballot box
Sec 26. The name Of each elector whose
ballot has been thus received shall be imme-
diately entered by each clerk, in the column
of his poll list headed names of voters"
numbering each name in the additional column
as it is taken down, SO that it may be seen
at any time whether the two lists agree.
Sec 81. Any person offering to vote may
be challenged as unqualified by the Inspector
or either Of the judges, or by any legal voter
and it shall, in all cases, be the duty of the
Inspector and each of the judges to challenge
any person offering to vote whom he shall
know or suspect not to be duly qualified as
an elector.
Sec. %. When any person Offering to vote
is challenged, it shall be the duty of the
board of judges to declare to him the qualif-
cations of an elector.
Sec. 20. If such person shall still insist that
he is entitled to vote and the challenge shall
not be withdrawn the board of judges. in
their discretion, may administer an oath or
affirmation to the voter; You do swear (or
affrm) that you are citizen of the United
States; that you are of the age of twenty.
one years, according to the best of your in
formation and belief; that you have resided
In this State six months next preceding this
election, and in this county (or district or
township, as the case may be) thirty days.
and that you have not before voted this day.
Sec. 80. II the person thus challenged shall
take Tie cath astendered to him by ne beard of
Judges, ne shall be admitted 10 rote, and IL shall
mol be ldifut, after he has taken such oath
or affirmation for said board to examine any
witnesses touching his want of qualifications:
but II he shall refuse to take the oath or afir-
nation SO rendered to him. his vote shall be
rejected
Sec. 81. If the vote Of any person be
challenged on the ground that he has been
convicted OF an infamous crime, or disfran-
chised by any court of competent jurisdiction,
he shall not be required to answer any ques-
tons respecting such alleged conviction; and
IN the absence of any authenticated record
oil such facts, it may be competent for two
dslnterested witnesses upon oath prove the