Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-07-03
SATURDAY MORNING, July 3, 1876
PLACES OF VOTING.


One of our morning papers yesterday
published the following sentence. No
other paper had the news:
"VoTlNa PREclNcrs.-It has been
decided by the Commissioners of cleo
ton in the various Wards to have only
four precincts in the city, one for each
Ward"
We remark that if the Commissioners
of election have so decided, they have
acted right in the teeth of Gen. Candy S
orders; and it is not necessary to inquire
into their motives now, because there is
time for them to reverse that decision
and comply with the order in this re-
speet, which is as follows: z..-
Fifteenth-Thee election will be held
in each registration precinct (magiste-
rial district) of counties and ward of
cities at the place of registration, unless
the number of registered voters at any
one of said places of registration should
exceed four hundred, in which case such
additional polling places as may be ne
cessary will be selected; and to this
end, at the first meeting of the Boards
of Registration under this order each
registration precinct (magisterial dis
trict or city ward) which at the last re-
vision of registration October, 1867
contained more than four hundred reg
istered voters will be divided into two
or more election precincts, so as to
equalize as nearly as possible the num-
ber of voters in each and polling
place will be selected for each which
shall be as nearly central as may be cons
sistent with the convenience of the
voters in reaching it. Public notice,
defining the boundaries or limits of each
of the precincts so established, and de-
signaling the polling place for each, will
Immediately be given, and win be posted
in at least five of the most public places
of each of the precincts so established"
Now in every Ward of this city the
number of voters exceeds four hundred,
and the order requires that they shall
" be divided into two or more election
precincts, SO as to equalize as nearly as
possible the number of voters in each !;
and polling place shall be selected for
each. which shall be as nearly central
as may be consistent with the conven-
fence of the voters in reaching it," Ac-
cordingly, we find that in Richmond,
Marshall Ward has three precincts,
Jefferson Ward eight, Madison Ward
seven, Monroe Ward eight, and Clay
Ward three, making 90 precincts for the
city of Richmond and yet, according
to the above sentence of our cotempo-
rary, Norfolk city is to have but four
if such is really the dicision of the Com
missioners.
We must protest against any such
arrangement. AT the last election when
the polls were kept open for several
days, full opportunity was given for
every one to vote at one precinct; but
when the election must be finished in
one day, concluding at sunset, or at the
discretion of the Commissioners at 10
o'clock at night, it will be impossible to
60 through all the challenges which
will DO made, and poll all the voters,
especially in the Fourth Ward, at only
one precinct.
1t would appear that the Commits
sioners have no right to disregard the
requirements of the order, as above set
forth. General Candy desires full
and fair election, by his prescribing
this mode of conducting it. And are
the Commissioners at liberty thus to
disregard and make null his intention ?
Are they to abridge the privileges thus
accorded to the people by the military
commander ? We trust not. And as
they have time to reconsider this action,
if indeed they have so decided, we call
their attention to the rule presented,
and to the facts of the case, that they
may make ample provision for the con,
yenience of the voters in this respect,
and provide the requisite number of
precincts. so that every man NAV cast
the vote which the law allows him.