Litchfield enquirer., 1863-08-13

shall add the names of all other persons resi- ding in the respective districts, who are by law qualified to vote at the annual town meeting. After the several lists are thus perfected, the town clerk shall make copy of the list of each district, to be used by the presiding off cer of such district on the day of said annual town meeting and said lists, with the marks or checks upon the same, shall, within twen- ty-four hours after the ballot-bOx is closed be lodged by the presiding officer in the first dis trict, in the office of the town clerk, and there kept on file and carefully preserved. And for his services in preparing said lists, said town clerk shall be paid a reasonable compensation by said town; and any voter of said town shall be entitled to demand and receive of said town clerk copy or copies of either ot said lists so prepared, on paying therefor the same fees as town clerks are by law entitled to receive for copies of records.
 Sec. 8. During every such annual town meet ing the selectmen and town clerk shall be and the first district, from the opening of the bal lot-boxes to the closing of t6e same, at such convenient place as they may appoint for the purpose of examining and deciding upon all applications to be admitted to the privilege of voting at such meeting. And every person so admitted during said session shall be entitled to receive certificate of admission from the town clerk, and on his presenting the same to the presiding officer of the district where such voter has his place of lodging, before the bal lotbox is closed, such presiding officer shall receive and keep such certificate, and shall permit such person 50 presenting it, to vote, and shall enter such name upon the list in said district.
 Sec. g. The presiding officer of each dis trict at such annual town meeting shall re- ceive the ballots of all persons whose names are on the list prepared by the town clerk for the use of such presiding officer, unless the right of such person to vote at such meeting is challenged.
 And if any person whose name is not on said list shall offer to vote in said district said presiding officer may receive such vote, if he is of opinion that the person offering the same is legal voter of said town, and entitled to vote in said district, unless the right of such person to vote is challenged. And each pre- siding officer shall keep a list of all such per sons so permitted to vote, and the same shall be returned in like manner with the list fur nished to such presiding officer by the town clerk, and lodged in the office of the town clerk, certified by such presiding officer.
 Sec. 10. If the vote of any person shall be challenged as aforesaid, the officer presiding in such district may, and upon the request of any legal voter present, shall examine the per son whose right so to vote is challenged, on oath, touching the question arising upon such challenge, and may also hear other testimony, and if, upon such challenge, the presiding of- Gcer is of opinion that the person whose right to vote is challenged, is g legal voter of said town, and entitled to vote in said district, his vote shall be received, but otherwise not :: provided, that if any person shall declare himself aggrieved by the decision of such pre- siding officer, in refusing to receive any vote as aforesaid on the ground that the person offer ing the same is not legal voter of said town, the presiding officer, on being thereto re- quested, shall reserve the question so arising to the board of registration, by whom the game shall be immediately heard and decided before the ballot boxes are closed and if said board of registration shall decide such person to be legal voter of|said town, the town clerk shall thereupon give to him certificate of the fact, and on presentation thereof to tie officer presiding in the district wherein he has his place of lodging, his vote shall be re- ceived.
 Sec. II. Immediately after the ballot boxes are closed at suca annual town meeting, the presiding officer and his assistant, shall, each with the aid of the civil authority and such other persons only as he shall select, proceed in their respective districts to sort and count the votes which have been given in, in said districts and the assistant presiding officer shall make true certificate of all the ballots given for the respective officers voted for in the second district, and shall forthwith trans nit such certificate, together with the votes received, and the list of voters as checked, to the presiding officer in the first district; and thereupon the said presiding officer. after hay ing ascertained the result of the ballots in the whole town, as given in the several districts as aforesaid, shall declare the same in open meet ing, and shall make such return thereof as the law directs.
 Sec. 12. Nothing in this act contained shall be construed to prevent said town from filling any vacancy that may occur at time other than the time of the annual meeting for choos- ing officers, and in case of such vacancy so oc- curing, tAa same may be lawfully filled in such manner as if this act had not been passed.
 Sec. l3. Any person who shall take false oath before any presiding 9r assistant presi- fore the board of registration, upon question bASitA uuuOA tAC tCutu oCOtiOu OA ttAlS act, shall be deemed guilty of perjury. and shall be liable to the penalties thereof and any person who shall wilfully make any false statement, or give any false name or answer to any presiding or assistant presiding officer or beard of registration while in session. in any matter relating to the right of any person to vote, shall pay fine of fifty dollars, and be imprisoned in the county jail three months.
 Sec. IA. If any member of the board of se- lectmen, or the town clerk, or any presiding or assistant presiding officer of any such annual town meeting, shall, without just or reasona. ble cause, refuse or neglect to perform any of the duties prescribed by this act, he shall on conviction thereof. be subject to fineof three hundred dollars; and if any such member, or such clerk, presiding or assistant presiding of ficer shall be guilty of fraud in performing said duties, he shall be subject to fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, and to impris- onment in the county jail six months.
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