The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-13
THE ELECTION ORDERED,
REGISTRY TO BE REVISED.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT.
New Orleans, La, March IL, 1865. !

Congress mentioned 10 said order, proceed 20
frame Constitution aud civil government Tor The
state Louisiana; and.
WHFREAs. The acts Of Congress provide thatth
election for the ratification OF said Constitution,
shall be conducted by the officers or persons ap
pointed, or to be appointed, by the commanding
general said election will be held IN the state OF
Louisiana from A. N. TO P. NJ. on the 18th aud
18th days Of April, ls6s. st which the registered
voters OF said state may vote for or against the
Constitution submitted to them by said con
ventiop.
ton boards Of gistrars will, after having given
reasonable public notice, revise az the places
where the bosrds are in session, for period of
five days, the registration lists, and upon being
satisfied that any person not entitled thereto has
been registered, will strike the name Of such per-
son from the list. The boards viii also, during
the sci me period add to the registry the names OF
all persons who at that time possess the quaica-
lions required by law, and wLo have not already
been registered. See sec. T. Supplementary Act
Upor completion Of the revision OF registration,
the boards Of registrars will Immediately proceed
TO make up their precinct poll books-for this
purpose they VII use the precinct books used at
the last election, making the necessary correc-
tons. They will also forward TO these headqnar-.
tiers tabular statement, giving the number OF
persons registered (white and colored) daring the
revision; the number elected white and colored);
tie names of the persons refused registration and
ment showing the causes therefor.
2. The polls will be opened stevery voting pre-
cinct in each parish at the places designated By
law. No person will be allowed to vote whose
name does not appear on the registry list. The
election will be by ballot. "Those voting ia
favor Of the Constitution, shall have written or
printed on the ballots, by which they vote as
aforesaid, the words, For the Constitution aud
those voting against the Constitution, shall have
written or printed on such ballots, the words
Against the Constitution" Each ballot pre-
scented by a colored voter shall be marked
'Colored." by one OF the judges of election.
Poll books will be kept Of the names OF the voters
as at ordinary elections In the State. As each
voter presents his certificate one Of the judges
will indorse on it Voted,r with the date, and
signed by one of the commissioners.
,. The boards of1registration OF each parish will
be superintendent of, and viii conduct the cleo
or, and will see that all the necessary prepare.
tioDs are made for properly conducting the same;
that due and sufficient notice is given of the time
and object Of the election, commissioners ap-
pointed, proper ballOtboxes prepared, etc.
IT, from any cause, any OF the registrars Of
parish fail 10 perform the duty incumbent upon
ihem either at the revision directed 10 paragraph
l. or at the election, their places will be filed by
the clerk Of the district court recorder Of the
parish Of the parish court in the order
named, provided they can qualify according to
law. II vacancies cannot be thus filed, the re-
naming portion of the registration board will I'll
them with persons who can duly qualify, notifying
this Office of the same.
4. The election at each precinct will be pre-
sided over by the three commissioners, who will
be sworn in the same manner as the registrars.
Should only two of the commissioners be pre-
sent. they shall appoint third; should only one
be present he shall appoint another, and they to-
gether shall appoint third.
To carry out this, commissioners are authorized
to administer the required oath.
8. At the close of the election. the commission
ers will carefully count and make duplicate re-
turns of the result Of the election; stating. also,
in four separate lists, respectively the number of
white voters for. the number of colored voters
for, and the number of each against the Constitu-
ton. The ballots will then be replaced in the
ballot boxes, which will be sealed, and together
with the registration and election records will be
carried by one of the commissioners to the Court
HoUse, or place designated, and turned over TO.
the board of registrars.
The board will then carefully count and make
duplicate returns of the votes cast in the manner
prescribed for commissioners of election and will
see whether the vote of each precinct corresponds
with the record of the commissioners.
The ballots will then be replaced in the ballot
boxes which will be sealed, and together with
the registration and election records, will be
turned over TO such parish officer or member of
the registration board as said board may select,
who will receipt therefor, and will be held fespOn
sible for the same. Each member of the board
will make affidavit to the correctness OF the re-
turns one copy of which will then be brought by
some member Of the board to the commanding
general Of the fifth military district, at New
Orleans, the other copy will be retained by the
board until further orders.
g. The Boards Of Registrars and commissioners
will see that full and fair opportunity is given
for depositirg his ballot, TO every man entitled to
vote and will generally do everything that Is re.
qusite TO secure full and impartial expression
OF the opinions and wishes Of the registered voters.
Z. lffrom any cause the elections in any Of the
precincts coDnOt be held, as for instance, the in
ability to procure properly qualified commits
soners, the Boards of Registrars will give timely
notice 10 the voters thereof as TO where they
shall vote in an adjoining precinct, in their own
parishes.
s. No persons shall act as commissioners or
registrars, under this order who are candidates at
the election for any office.
9. The sheriff Of each parish is made RESPONSE
BILE for the preservation OF good order, and the
perfect freedom of the ballot at the various cleo
ton precincts in his parish. To this end he will
appoint deputy-who shall be duly qualified
under the laws Of the State-fOr each precinct in
the parish, who will be required to be present at
the place of voting during the whole time the
election Is being held. The said deputies will
promptly and fully obey every demand made upon
their official services in preserving the peace and
good order by the commissioners of election.
Deputies appointed in accordance with the fore
going will be paid the same as commissioners, on
accounts approved by the registrar, out of the
reconstruction fund.
As an additional measure to secure the purity
OF the election, each commissioner and registrar
is hereby clothed, during the election, with
authority TO call upon the civil officers of the
parish to make arrests, and 10 case of failure OF
the aforesaid civil officers. are empowered to per-
form their duties during the election. They will
make full report Of such failures on the part Of
civil officers to the commanding general fifth mill
tary district.
10. All places where intoxicating liquors are re-
tailed will be closed on the days of election, and
such sale Of liquors is prohibited during said cleo
ton days.
H. Military interference with elections, "un
less it shall be necessary TO keep the peace at the
polls" is prohibited by law; and no soldiers will
be allowed to appear ct any polling place, unless
as citizens of the State they are registered as
voters, and then only for the purpose Of voting ;
but the commanders of posts will be prepared 10
act promptly II the civil authorities fan to pre-
serve the peace.
IL. When the returns shall have been received
at the headquarters of the Fifth Military District,
the result Of the election will be published By the
commander thereof.
IL. Persons who convey returns to the head
quarters Of the Fifth Military District, will be paid,
at New Orleans, reasonable expenses incurred in
making the journey and returning.
IA. In case Of questions arising as 10 the right
OF any Individual to be registered, the person
deemiDg himself aggrieyed is entitled to bis appeal
e. 4. ~ he - ~ Il