The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-11
AN ACT TO REGULATE ELECrIoNsIy THE

Maryland That Board of Police of the citV of BaIti
more as soon as be after the passage of this Act anf
before the holding of any election whatsoever in the saC
city, shall lay out and divide every of the ward
OF he said city into election precincts in the
lowing that is to saythe first ward into three precincts
the second ward into three precincts the third ward into
four precincts the fourth ward into precincts the
hith ward into two precincts the sixth ward three
precincts the seventh ward into precincts the
ward INTO four precincts the ninth ward into two
cncts the tenth ward into precincts; the eleventh
ward into three precints the twelfth ward into three pre-
cncts the thirteenth ward into precincts the four
eehth ward into three precincts the fifteenth ward into
iour pecncs the sixteenth ward into three precincts
IN seventeenth ward into four precincts the eighteenth
Wafd into seven precincts the nineteenth into four
precincts and the twentieth ward into four precincts ali
OF which precincts in any ward shall be as nearly
equa to each other as may be practicable voting
laon and shall be set apart with as much regard as
oe 10 the proximity and concentration of their several
parts ana TO the convenience Of the voters therein And
shall be the duty of the said Board cause the said
precincts in each and every ward, be numbered l. 2
&c anu the description o! each thereof recorded in
bnok to be Kept by them for the purpose and so soon
the SAID division shall have been made and recorded
the said Board shall the said description of the
era Precincts with their respective numbers to be pub
lis he'd daily three times in all of the daily papers of the
CITY OF baltimore which shall be willing, for proper
compensation to insert the And it shall be the
Of the said Board from time to time after the said
division shall have been made to alter and correct said
division whenever they may deem it expedient so how
ever as not to increase or diminish the number of
ccts IN any OF the several wards sadaDd
OF any change in the number locality of the wards Of
aid city hereafter they SHALL possible therea
ter, distribute the seVeray into equal precincts
near as may be- to contain each four hundred and fty
voters more less nearly their discretion they
may deem advisable and shall from time m tne tar.
after amend such distribution if so as TO prod
such result and they cause the said alterations or
new divisions and amendments thereof be likewise
recorded and advertised as aforesaid And from and
after the making of such several divisions or
distributions into precincts the votes of the citizens
en1tied by law to vote in any ward of the CITY
oil Baltimore, shall be given and received only at the
place of voting of the precinct in which they shall reside
last resided previously to their removal from the said
ward II they have so removed and have acquired
SEC 2 ind be 1t enacted That it shall be the duty of
the SAID Police Board Immediately after they shall have
essasheu eiection precincts as first herein provided
and appoint three discreet persons of
said precincts to Judges of Election therein the
Iage 70 be legal voters OF the precinct for which
they shall respectively be appointed and to hold office for
the term of one from and after date of their an
pointmsnt and for so much longer time as they NAV be
willing and the said Board may fit subject however
to removal, at any time by the said Board but each and
every person appointed shall unless
by the said Board disqualified by i'll health mr. other
wise according to law be bound to serve as su Jud for
the term Of one aforesaid when appointed once in
every hye years required and in of refusal so to
do shall be liable to penalty of Five Hundred Dollars
recoverable by the said Board by civil action in the
name of the State and the said Board shall have power
and authority and it shall be their duty to m all yacan
eies which shall be caused among the said Judges by
DEATH removal disqualification, refusal to act or other
WISE and to appoint successors from time time to those
Judges whose term of service shall be about to expire or
shall have expired whom they shall remove; and ev
cry Judge appointed shall hold office for the term of
one year. subject to the conditions herenbefore nroyded
SEC B. And be 1t enacted That the said Judges of Flee
tion and each Of them shall be- and they are hereby ere
ated conservatos of the peace while they shall be acting
as such Judges and shall have full power and authority
and they are hereby respectively commanded to
the peace at and about the places of voting their re-
spectve precincts from the time that the polls shall have
been opened therein until the returns the votes taken
at any election therein shall have been made and they
ana each OF them shall have full power authority
ana 1t shall be their duty to keep the polls their
tive precincts clear them to be kent clear o
that ngress thereto and egres shall be free and
to the voters and to and suppress
riots tumut violence disorder and all other improner
practices, tending to the intimidation obstruction of
voters or the disturbance interruption of elections.
and the SAID Judges, or majority of them in each pre-
clnct, shall have power, and hereby directed,
TO select the places of voting in and for their re-
spectve precincts and to take that the same be
as near to the centre of such precincts as may be-
and upon open and public street: in a free acces
sible, and convenient location, and that no tavern
liquor store grog shop other place at which auor
shall usually the time be sold be bv them taken Or
used as place of voting; and they shall take all such
measures whether by the erection of barriers or estab
fishing limits around the polls. otherwise as NAV be
necessary and proper in their Judgment prevent crow
approaching retiring from the same; and it shall he
their duty by proper precautions in advance and by
sucn regulations and arrangements beforehand
day OF election may be suitable to secure the peace
fu conduct of such elections be held during their
official terms and the protection voters and the
ballot boxes from violence and fraud
SEC 4. And be it enacted, That in order to enable
the said Judges to discharge the duties imposed upop
them by this any other act they and each of them
shall have full power and authority upon every day of
election and until they shall shall have made M the
turns of the votes poed commit the Jail of BaIt
more City, upon their warrants respectively all persons
who shall within their respective precincts violate or at
tempt to violate this act other or provision of
law touching elections, existing hereafter to be
enacted and they hereby authorized call upon the
Sherlt OF Baltimore City and his deputies consa
bes policemen other peace officers to serve the said
warrants; and they further authorized and directed
at the times and for the period aforesaid call upon the
said Sheriff and his deputies officers last above
mentioned well all private citizens and if need be
to summon the posse conats, sid therl in suppress
sing riot violence disturbance and disorder in pre-
serving the public peace protecting and other
voters and securing the quiet and freedom the cleo
tion and the safety of the ballots and baotboxes and
any person or persons whom they may summon on
whom they call to the said warrants or
ad them respectively as hereinbefore provided and
shall refuse to obey such call or summons shall liable
respectively to the penalties following for such refusal
be recovered by the said Board Police by civil action
IN the name of the State; that is say the said Sheriff
to penalty of Five Thousand Dollars any other peace
officer aforesaid penalty OF Five Hundred Dollars.
and any private citizen penalty One Hundred and
Flfty Dollars; and each and every person refusing
ment for such refusal by law already or NAV here
after be provided And any officer person having con-
troll command or keeping of the said Jail Baltimore
OF the Corporation of said City, who shall prevent
or forbid the reception detention, in such Jail of
them according to the exigency Of such commitment
shall be liable to penalty OF One Thousand Dollars
for every such offence recoverable by said Board of Po
lice by civil action in the name of the State, and
psonment for not less than sixty days upon conviction
thereof Criminal Court OF competent jurisdiction
Provided however that nothing this section contained
shall be construed to impair destroy the authority of
the said Police Board under the act constituting the
same and especially under the 9th section thereof tn
control and command all conservaors of peace on the
occasions and in the manner therein provided.
SEC s. And be enacted, That the said Board of Police
shall likewise appoint for every election two clerks for
each election precinct who shall respectively discharge
the duties by law belonging, hereafter assigned
TO clerks elections and who shall receive Dollars
diem each for their services said Judges
of Election shall receive Two Dollars per diem for their
services The compensation of such Judges and Clerks
and all expenses to be incurred by the said Judges under
this Act otherwise according law as well as all ey
penses to be incurred by said Board of Police in the dvi
sion OF the wards into precincts aforesaid in
cordng and publishing the same otherwise under this
ACT or In the execution thereof to be paid by and
eraoe from the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and
to be provided for by said Mayor and City Council by
taxation otherwise
SEC g. And be it enacted, That each of the said Judges
and Clerks, as soon be after his appointment and
before proceeding to act at election shall take the
general oath affirmation prescribed by the section
of the t article of the Constitution and also the oath or
affirmation prescribed by the section of the Act of
1906 chap 81, for Judges and Clerks respectively and
shall likewise make oath affirmation well and faithful
y to discharge the duties by this on him or
which may be assigned to him. during his official term
by law the said oahs armatons be administered
by the Board of Police aforesaid, signed by the parties
making the and recorded among the proceedings Of
any Justice Of the Peace who shall certify the same to
the said Board with the signature of the party attached
which certificate shall be recorded aforesaid
SEC T. And be ii enacted That OH the morning of each
and every day of election said CITY and on the ay pre-
cedng practicable the Judges of each precinct shall
give public notice. by advertisement all daily pa
pers OF the said city, the propreors whereof shall be will
for reasonable compensation insert the same of
the places at which the polls shall be held in their respec
tive precincts.
SEC. s. And be ii enacted That at every election to he
held the City of Baltimore after the passage of this
Act the polls shall be open for the reception votes
from three O'Clock A. NJ until O'Clock NJ, and
longer.
SEC. g. And be 1t enacted That it shall be the duty of
the Judges OF Election in each of the precincts herenbe
fore provided for any person shall present
himself to offer vote therein to take from him
the ballot which he shall tender before they shall exa
mine him any other person touching his qualifications
and before they shall determine in regard thereto and
the said Jud&es, in each precinct in addition the bal
lot box boxes to be the reception of votes
box wherein all ballots which they shall reject shall
separately deposited by said Judges in sealed
closed envelope with the of the party Offering the
same endorsed thereon which said box shall be
Immediately after the said election and deposited with
the Board of Police aforesaid until the twelve
months next ensuing, when if the said ballots shall not
have been shall not be required for the purpose of any
election contest or Judicial investigation, lin which
they shall be produced and opened if necesary they
shall be destroyed by the said Board without being
opened.
SEC 10 And be ii further enacted. That shall be un
lawful to keep open, the said City any election
day, any drinking establishment bar-room, or any
shop whatsoever to furnish any spirituous
fermented liquor therein thererom person
who shall be guilty of violating this section
of retailing dispensing any sprtuous or fermented
liquors any election day in said City, shall forfeit his
her, their license, il he she shall have taken
any, and be disqualified from taking any other IL
for the sale of such liquors the period
thereafter, and shall moreover be liable pc
nalty of Five Hundred Dollars be recovered by said
Board of Police by civil action in the the State
and it shall be the duty Of said Board and Of all police
the provisions of this section be complied with
form upon all persons violating the same, of whose
offence they shall have knowledge or information.
Sec. H. And be ii enacted, That it shall be the duty
nf The Judn