The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-10-06
I'M = O R z 4 n TT
Notice to Election Boards I.

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The District Attorney of this county has
given the following notice, to which we
call the attention of the election-boards and |
citizens OF this county:
70 tie offers Of Election and Citizens Of !
Bedford Coa..ty:
As District Attorney for this county, charged sssuch
With he duty Of prosecuting ccurts offenders again
tLa laws cE tie CommouH eah think it timely and prop
cali your attention question concerning the right
Of voting AZ the approaching election to the end that the
may be kept and the legal rights of electors main
tained
The qualifications OF elector (besi1c naturalization
in case Of foreign bir few in number and plain
~ ae forth in the Constitution Of the State and long
as that Constitution remains unchanged power what
ever can add to or subtract from Them They reoted
in the general eieccul and these laws thus made
present the only questions which arise as to the eieco
raj qualifications of our people
It has been alleged recently that reporting persons
under the United States drafts and others who left their
districts to avoid being drafted, not entitled to vote
at State elections and that boards Of election should re-
eet their votes But election boards have no right to
ect the of such persons and no power try o. Dr.
erine the question whether they il fault or not uu
der United States laws The 25srry Of stopping cleo
tions to try draft questions manifest frat blush; and
there is law comforting such power on election officers
or regulating its exercise On hecontrary, :heFe most
express law with renalties prevent any SUCH depaF
re from oficil duty by them.
BY the 1881 section of the General Election Law Of 81
July. 1892 it is provided, that
IF any Inspector Judge Of N election SHAH know
ingly reject the vote of any qualified citizens
each Of the persons 80 offending shail, conviction be
punished in the prescribed in the 07th section Of
this act a. by dne Of not less hsa so nor more tan
5000
BY the eth section Of tbs same law il is provided that
Every person qualified as aforesaid, and VINO shall
make due proof iii rcqrire Of his residence and pay.
Uent Of taxes Aforesaid shall be admitted 70 uote in the
township, ward or ds%ict in which he shall reside
And by the 18th section of the law an Inspector
cath Is prescribed which is il part follows: y
and that II not receive any ticket or1ate f.ou
any Ee-on other than such shall arny believe to be-
according to L2c P,9r5ions 81 the Coatittion zad 2sg
IF his CemmoHwc4lh, entitled to vote at snah election
without requiring such evidence Of the ght to vote
ai~actea - ,7a; nor 1rH Irczqtiousi @cqv or csss
t0 ~esEre eng r0tc r21a ty person 4ato sit Bclece
70 Be entitled 20 as aJorssaid. g.
1t thus appears ,at the vote Of person qualified m
doF the state Constitution and laws z7. bs erraz thai
It's rejection is an ndcta5e oGsase and that the sgec
.arz expressly lot to reject suoh vote nor even
to rszz:jonstp as'7y the voter in giving it.
There IS ai-e ample provision Of law protect the v3
ter from Annoyance intimidation, or violence from any
person Whatever the exercise Of his right 10 vote BIZ
section I5 Of th Election Law aboTe mentioned tits pro-
vided, that
Ii any person ? shall uze or practice apy in
midaton threats force or violence with design to in.
Suence unduy any eector OF 20 prevent him
FROM voting to restrain the freedom Of choice such
person, conviction shall be fined in any sum not ex-
ceeding $780, and be imprisoned for a tine not less than
one nor more than twelve months"
b. this section punishment can be inflicted IN
any person who attempts deter elcctor from voting
b threatening him with prosecution or arrest Or using
any other intimidation any force With saoh q ae,
The preteIse that Congress has prohibited non-rc7or
ns from voting State qleotiors - not tre in pnt
Of F@e., and such prohibition could have eject IL il
re~s enacted Congress determine who shall Or
-h- EJ vote at state election simply because he ques
tioa is 7Goii c-:sde II is uIsdis5 and beyond It's
powsIs. 1t has mower il eolaeeon with or relating
. Stats Suffrage ctizenEip except the power conferred
npoa il by he States pass uniform laws Of nauraIiza-
oa or pergans born abroaG Zach State fxes exclusive
i AID cancusiga}y By rs Constitution the quaia-
cations Of suffrage ~ elections wihin :ts borders.
bnve ths called the attention Of election officers and
'itizens to this subject, introductory the nao which
now sSe hat - @ay Violations Of the laws securing
he f and complete exercise of the right Of suffrage
lie t.e~'-rs of t- toGt, prosecutions will be promptly
instituted aui due punishment inflicted, Neither the
,cion of legal Intimidation Ct voters 7il! be
10 90 unPunished The laws are in force il
Bedford county, and they s6aH be cze.utcd
JOHN PALMER,
District Attorney o. Bedford county,
SrIF1yR Fc-+-P--o TC.,