Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-06-01

clate with himself two others (reglStered voters
duly qualified who shall take the same oath, be
invested with the same power, and be subject
to the same responsibilities, as the regularly
appointed commissioners but in no case shall
the election at any polling place fail if there be
one commissioner present, who in that case will
cause the polls to be opened, appoint the nee
essary writer's or clerks, and conduct the cleo
ton in accordance with the provisions of the
order.
| FourteenM-At each polling place two wri-
ters or clerks will be appointed by the commis-
sioners, each of whom shall have charge of a
separate poll-list, on which he shall enter the
name of every voter whose ballots have been
accepted by the commissioners, and shall per-
form during the election the counting of the
ballots and making up the returns-such other
clerical duties as may be deyolVed upon him by
( the commissioners. At polling places where
the number of votes to be poed exceeds two
hundred, an additional clerk may be appointed
if the commissioners should consider it neces-
sary, whose duty it shall be to register the GER
tifcates of registration and affidavits in the ca
ses provided for by section 10, and perform
such other clerical duties as may be devolved
upon him by the commissioners. Before en-
tering upon their duties the clerks shall be
sworn to the faithful and impartial discharge
of their duties
Fyieenth-The election will be held in each
registration precinct (magisterial district) of
counties and ward of cities at the place ofregis-
tration, unless the number of registered voters
at any one of said places Of registration should
exceed four hundred, in which case such addi-
tional polling places as may be necessary will be
selected and to this end, at the first meeting
Of the Boards OF Registration under this order
each registration precinct (magisteral district or
city ward) which at the last revision ofregistra-
ton October. 1867, contained more than four
hundred registered voters will 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 will be selected for
each which shall be as nearly central as may be
consistent with the convenience of the voters in
reaching it. Public notice, defining the bound
aries or limits of each of the precincts so estab-
lished, and designating the polling place for
each, will Immediately be given, and will be
posted in at least five of the most public places
OF each of the precincts so established. AS soon
as the revision of registration is completed the
Boards Of Registration will cause copy of the
registration lists to be prepared and furnished
to the commissioners of election at each of the
separate polling places in their registration pre-
cinct.
Voters are required to vote at the polling
established for the polling precinct within the
limits Of which they reside; but they will be al
lowed to vote at any other polling place within
showing to the satisfaction ofthe commissioners
that by reason of want of notice or any other
sufficient cause they failed to vote at the proper
place.
Stcteenth-The vote will be by ballot. and no
names, numbers, or marks, by which the vote
might be disclosed will be placed on the outside
OF any ballot. Every person presenting ballot
or ballots at the polls shall announce his name,
and if, upon examination, it is found that he
has been registered as voter. one of the COM
mssioners shall receive his ballot or ballots and
without opening them or allowing them to be
opened or examined, will deposit them in the
be entered by each clerk in the poll list under
his charge. No ballots will be received from
persons who have not been properly registered,
except In cases where the name of the person
applying to vote has been incorrectly recorded
on the registration lists, in which case, if the
officer conducting the election is satisfied, either
from his personal knowledge or from the testi-
mony of credible witnesses, that the person was
actually registered then his vote shall be re-
celved and his name entered on the poll list and
checked on the registration list
Blanks for poll lists will be furnished, upon
which the names of all persons voting at the
election will be entered.
Seventeenth th-Registration is evidence of the
right to vote, and challenges at the polls are al
lowed only so far as may be necessary to pre-
vent repeating or fraudulent presentations of
duly registered voters. To the end that the
right to challenge may not be made the means
Of obstructing or hindering the election, two
persons may be selected from each political party
to act as challengers at each polling place, by
or through whom all challenges shall be made.
They must be registered voters, and known to
the commissioners as respectable and RESPONSE
BILE citizens. Whenever any person challenged
for identity, whose name is found upon the re-
gistratlon lists, is known to any one Of the COM
mlssoners to be the person he represents him
self to be, his vote shall be admitted but if he
be not so known, one of the commissioners shall
administer the following oath: You do swear
that your name is there the name announced
shall be inserted) and that in such name you
were duly registered as a voter of the
election district and -- precinct, and that
you are the identical person you SO represent
yourself to be- If he be challenged for having
already voted, the commissioner shall admins
ter the following oath: "You do swear that
you have not voted at this election at this or any
other polling place." If any person so challeng-
ed shall refuse to take the oath so rendered his
vote shall be rejected, but if he take it his vote
challenge shall be noted on the poll lists opposite
his name.
Eighteenth-The polls shall be opened on the
day of election at each voting place at SUNRISE
and closed at sunrise, and shall be kept open
during these hours without intermission or ad-
ournment: Provided, That if the electors who
appear at any place of voting cannot be polled
before that hour, then the polls may be kept
open until 10 2. NJ. if the commissioners should
consider it necessary.
Observation-Disclosures the provision of the 1st
section of the law Of February %, 1868, that
sat the election in which the adoption or rejec-
ton of any constitution is submitted any person
duly registered in the State may vote in the
election district where he offers to vote, when
he has resided therein for ten days next preced-
ing such election, upon presentation of his
certificate ofregistration his affidavit, or other
satisfactory evidence, under such regulations as
the district commanders may prescribe" any
duly registered voter Of the State will be al
lowed to vote in any district upon presentation
OF his certificate of registration accompanied by
his affidavit that he has resided in said district
at least ten days preceding the day Of election,
and that he has not already voted at this cleo
ton. In default of the certificate of rcgistra
ton, the affidavit of the voter must set forth the
fact that he was duly registered, and the name
of the county and precinct in which he was so
registered. In doubtful cases the registrars or
commissioners of the elections shall require such
additional evidence as may be necessary to
satisfy them that the applicant is entitled to vote
under the provisions OF the law above cited
Blank forms for the certificates and affidavits
will be furnished the registrars and commission
ers of election, and when used for the purpose
of voting will be numbered to correspond with
the number of voters names as entered on the