The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1869-02-12
rKRRurORuAL ELECTIONS

The bill to preserve the purity OF elec
tions in the Territories, for which q sub
stitute was reported from the Commk-
tee ON Territories. after being fiercely
contested by MIR. Cavauaugh. Mr.. Chill
colt of Colorado. Mr. Bashford of Arizo-
ma, Mr. Burleigh OF Dakotah, and Mr.
Chanler of New York, and slightly
amended, passed the House Jan. 10Th
by ayes 81. nays, IS. Ashley then
moved to reconsider and to table the
motion. which latter Was agreed to and
the bill went to the Senate. II Ia toc
voluminous for publication until it II
finally amended and becomes a law. bu,
We cite the following leading features a.
il passed the House:
SEC. I. All elections in the Territories
for Delegate and Territorial and county
offices, shall be held under this act The
Governor at least 12O days before elec,
tions shall appoint n board of canvas
sers. four citizens of each county to act
at such elections.
SEC. =. Two members OF the board
shall be members of the dominant party,
at the last preceding election. the o.he I
two of the Iqinority party: if there are
two minority parties. one from each
that all parties may be represented.
SEC. 3. Members of the board shall
within 30 days after appointment signi-
fy acceptance, and be sworn, elect one
member President and one Secretary
and all official papers shall be issued
over the signature of such officers. and
be sanctioned by three members of the
board, a majority constituting q quorum
for the transaction of business.
SEC. 4. II any or all members appoint
ed on any of the County Boards, fail
to accept within 30 days, the Governor
shall notify the electors of said county
by proclamation, to be published in one
newspaper in said county, or in . paper
published At the capital, or in writing
in three of the most prominent places In
the county. The County Committee OF
such party as the perssns declining are
members, may then recommend persons
shall appoint, or failing to recommend
point any qualified elector OF any party
to fill the vacancy.
SEC. ). The Board shall, after organs
izing, sixty days before the election, ap-
point four well known and competent
citizens for each ward, township, or vo-
ting precinct in such county, to act as
an Election Board.-two from dominant
party. two from minority party, etc, as
in sec. ,.
Sec. q. Members OF these election
boards shall, within fifteen days, 81 ,ni-
fy acceptance, and. taking an oath pre-
scribed by the Governor, shall file The
same with the Board of Canvassers. In
failure to accept, the Board OF Canvas
sers fill vacancies from the same party
as the person declining. and if there are
no other members of such party who
will accept, then from such party as
they may choose. The names of mems
bers of election boards shall be published
ten days before the election in each
leadir < party newspaper in the county,
If there be such papers il not. then in
any paper in the county.
Sec. :. Provides for the filling OF va
cancies in election boards, by County
Canvassers.
Sec. .. If the election boards or any
members OF them in any voting precinct.
fail or refuse to meet and organize, and
proceed with the election, on or before
eight o'clock A. NJ. on the day of cleo
tion, then the qualified electors present
at the polls shall select a person or per-
sons to fill the vacancy, due regard be~
ing had TO the same party representa-
tion rs before provided.
Sec. y. A failure to comply with the
provisions of this Act, as to organiza-
ton OF the election board. or the man
ner OF conducting the election by County
Canvassers, election board or qualified
qualified electors, shall vitiate the elec-
tion in that precinct, and il two or more
responsible citizens shall, within ten
days after said election. appear before
the County Canvassers tor the county,
and make oath that this Act WAS vio-
lated as regards the election board, or
that the election was otherwise impTop-
erly and unlawfully conducted, either
by the rejection OF legal votes, or by the
admission OF illegal votes, or by making
false returns. or tor any violation OF law,
specifying particularly the provisions OF
this Act or the laws of the Territory
which have been violated, the Board OF
Canvassers shall furnish at least two
members of the election board with a
copy of the charges and specifications,
and notify the election board To appear
before the Board OF Canyassers within
ten days to answer such charges. The
Canvassers may require other testimony
than the election board, and in case oi
the refusal or neglect OF such board, or
one or more members, 10 answer, and
by the testI nIony OF other witnesses. il
required, to satisfy the Board OF Cans
vassers, the entire vote of that precinct
shall DC thrown out.
SEC. 10. Provides the polls shall be
as possible, and closed at l.. NJ The
election board shall designate two OF its
members. each of which shall keep a
seperate poll-5ook, in which shall be
recorded the name of each person vot-
ing. Each book shall be certified by
each member OF the board, and each
book shall show the number OF votes
cast and the number Tor each person.
One book shall be retained by the cleo
tion board until after the next general
Territorial election. the other transmit
ted by mail or messenger. as safety and
celebrity may require, within ten days IL
the board OF canvassers AZ the county
seat. the election board remaining in
possession of the ballot DoXes and poll
books until the ballots are counted and
certificates given, which shall be done
within twenty-'nGr hours after closing
rht. lui'- 'kII Uric--i,ns arising t,r, -.