The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-09-11
Elections and Election Laws
OF KANSAS TERRITORY.

in the minds Of many Of the people Of the Terri
tory Of Kansas, in reference to the approaching
October elections, and having been informed
that some misapprehension exists rs to the on
GERS to be elected at that time, and the laws un-
der which the elections are to be held: There
fore. in order to correct any erroneous impress
sions that may exist on these matters, I deem It
proper to direct public attention to the various
provisions Of law bearing on these subjects:
TERRITORIAL SUPERINTENDENT OF
COMMON SCHOOLS.
Chapter 6, section /, approved February u,
ls5s, provides for Territorial Superintendent
of Common Schools. who shall be elected BY
vote throughout the Territory, at the next gen.
eral election.
Statutes Of Kansas Territory, 1855, page $50,
chapter 81, section 2, "On the first Monday in
October, in the year one thousand eigth hun
dred and fifty-six, and on the first Monday in
October in every year thereafter, an election for
Representatives in the Legislative Assembly.
and for all other elective Offices not otherwise
provided for By law, shall be held, at the respec
tive places Of holding elections, in this Terri
tory.
SEc.e. Every county that now is or may hereaf-
ter be established, shall compose an election dis
trict, and all elections shall be held at the court
house Of such county, where one has been erect
ed. Kthere be no court house. then il shall be
the duty Of the county commissioners to name
house in such county where the election shall
be held. etc,
Prorided, That the county commissioners [n01
''sEperUisors''l may, from time to time, estsb-
Iish such additional alaction rrar;ncts as r,av
seem to them necessary or proper; PrOrided,
further, AOrerer, That in no case shall moro than
one precinct be established in any one munich
pal township.
The following portions of section S. viz: "The
county commissioners shall appoint the Judges
Of election in each county or voting precinct, at
least six days before the election at which they
are to act" is repealed by section 20, Of the
township law, approved February 70, 1883 viz:
"SEc. 40. The supervisors of each township
shall, BY virtue of their Office, be the commits
sioners of highways, overseers of the poor and
inspectors Of elections" leaving in force the fol-
lowing portion Of sectionS Of chapter sc, Of the
statute of 1855: And if, at the hour of opening
the polls, such judges are not present, then the
voters assembled shall have full power to elect
others to fill the vacancy or vacancies thus oc-
casioned. Said judges shall, before they enter
on the discharge Of their duties, take the follow
ing oath or affirmation, to be administered BY
one of their own body, by the sheriff, or BY any
officer authorized to administer oaths: "I do
swear (or affirm that will impartially discharge
the duties of judge Of the present election, &C.
cording to law and the best Of my ability"
SEC. 6. That two blank poll books, with the
proper blanks laid of, and the proper certificates
attached, shall be made out BY the clerk of the
county commissioners [now board of supervisors
and delivered TO the sheriff at least ten days be.
fore the election; and if not so made out and
delivered, it shall be the duty of the sheriff tc
cause the same to be made out. The sheriff shall
deliver such poll book to the judges of the elec.
ton, 1.-THE supervisors of the township are now
the judges of election,l so soon they are elect
cd and qualified, to act as judges Of elections. II
such poll books be not delivered BY the sheriff
the judges of the election shall cause the sams
to be made out. The certificates shall be in the
, following form, to wit:
We, the undersigned, judges of the election II
- election district, certify that the foregoini
is correct list of the votes given at election
. held on the - day f., A. d. 1s5-, as wit
nesseth our hands this - day of -. A. d
ls5-.
l Attest, Alb.
/ G.H. CD.
IL. Eff.
Clerks of Election. Judges
5 SEC. Z. "The judges of election shall appoin
I two clerks. who, before entering upon the dis
charge of their duties, shall take an oath or nj
frmation, to be administered by one of the iude
es, that they will faithfully discharge the dutie
of clerk according to law and the best of thei
ability.
' SEC. 8, "If, after the election of any Judge O
Q clerk. such Judge or clerk resign, or be unable
r further continue in the discharge Of his dutie
the remaining Judge or Judges, shall appoir
suitable person or persons to fill the place of th
d person orpersons so declining, who shall be qua
flied, and proceed to discharge his duties rs if b
had been originally selected.
SEC. 0. "The judges Of the election shall ope
the polls at nine o'clock in the morning and col
+ tinue them open until six o'clock in the evel
- ing: Procided ho,csrer, if all the votes offered
be given cannot be taken before the hour a.
y pointed for closing the polls the judges shall,
> public proclamation, adjourn such election uni
n the following day, when the polls shall again
| Opencu ana the election continued as Def0re, Dl
II in case shall the election be continued b
= yond the second day.
,s SEC. III. 1t shall be the duty OF the sheriff
person, or BY bydeputy, to attend each election, ar
u to cry in an audible voice the name of eac
rs voter, given in, and to discharge all other di
lt ties imposed on him by law, under the directic
of the judges.
- SEC. @. "Thejudges Of election shall preser'
ID good order. and may punish any disorderly pc
q sons for contempt, summarily, by fine, not Q,
ceeding twenty dollars. at their discretion, ar
- commit the offenders to Jail until the fine
70 paid.
le SEC. %. IF any person. appointed to take Il
!; returns of any election to the Secretary Of Il
Territory, wilfully fail to take the same in d.
'e time he shall be lined In the sum oil one nul
p dred dollars to be recovered Dy actlonoi deot
re the name of the Ierrtory' OF oy inoictment;
either case, the une 10 go INTO the county trea