The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-02-03
Constitutional Conventions Bin.

the judiciary committee OF the House
Of Delegates for taking the vote Of the
people on the question Of calling Con-
stitu,ional Convention, and for choosing
delegates to that Convention should the
same be approved
HOUSE BILL No. 81.
WHEREAS, 1t is represented that por-
ton Of the good people of this State are
DESTROYS of altering the Constitution
thereof; therefore
Be il enacted BY the Legislature Of West
Trqinia, /. That polls shall be held
throughout the State on the fourth
Thursday of May, 1871, for the purpose
of taking the sense of the voters there
of, on the question Of calling a con-
vention to alter the Constitution Of this
State
.. The Governor on the fifth day Of
March next, or as soon thereafter as prac-
ticable, shall appoint three persons in
each county as commissioners, any two
or more OF whom may act, to superin-
tend the taking OF said polls, at the
court houses Of the several counties
aforesaid.
3 The commissioners appointed by
the Governor in each county, shall ap-
point three commissioners for each
place therein, at which separate poll
is to be taken, any two or more OF whom
may act, to superiutend the said polls
/ at such places.
4. The commissioners appointed to
superintend any Of the said polls,
whether at the court house or other
place Of voting, shall attend according
iy. They shall admit all persons to
vote entitled to do so, and reject the
votes of all not 80 entitled, and in all
respects have the poll taken fairly and
impartially.
5. If only one Of said commissioners
shall attend, and be willing to act, he
may associate with himself any quail
fed voter who may be present, linone
OF the commissioners attend, or none
shall have been appointed, any three
qualified voters present, and agreeing to
act, shall be commissioners. Any such
commissioners appointed or agreeing to
act, in the manner provided by this sec
ton, shall take the same oath, perform
the same duties, and be subject to the
same penalties as il he had been origin
ally appointed commissioner.
g. The Clerk Of the township assisted
By such other persons, as the said COM
missioners at each place of voting may
employ for the purpose, shall record
the names Of all persons voting and aid
in counting the ballots, ascertalning the
result and making returns thereof. If
such Clerk for any reason shall fail to
act, the said commissioners shall ap-
point some suitable person to discharge
his said duties.
7. Before entering upon the discharge
Of their dnties, the said commissioners
and clerks shall, respectively, take and
subscribe an oath that they will sup
port the Constitution of the United
States and the Constitution OF this State,
and in the aaid election they will faith
fully and impartislly discharge their
respective duties" Which said oath
may be administed by one Of said COM
missioners or any person authorized to
administer oaths.
s. 1t shall be the duty Of said commits
sioners to take the vote on the question
aforesaid of every person qualified to
vote for delegates to the Legislature,
who shall offer to give his vote If the
right Of any person offering to vote at
said polls shall be challenged, and it
shall appear that such person is not
a minor, or pauper, or Of unsound
mind. and is not under conviction Of
treason, felony or bribery in an election,
and has been a resident of the State for
one year, and Of the county in which
he offers to vote for thirty days next
preceding such offer, the right of such
person to vote shall not be further 9ues-
toned, unless and until written charges
of some specific act or acts of disquali-
fcation, verified by the written affidavit
OF some qualified voter, shall be pre-
ferred against the person so offering TO
vote. And the right Of such person to
vote shall not be denied him unless the
charge so preferred shall be clearly es-
tablished by the oaths Of at least two
competent witnesses to each overt act,
and in examining into the truth of said
charges. the person so offering to vote
shall not on oath or otherwise be re-
Quired to criminate himself.
9. The said vote shall be taken 10y
ballot. The person voting in favor Of
the call Of said convention, shall have
written or printed on his ballot Con
vention," and the person voting against
such call, shall have written or printed
on his ballot, mo Convention"
10. Each poll book shall bear on the
first page thereof the heading: Names
Of all persons voting at -, in the
township Of -, and county Of -,
this day OF -" Two poll books or
lists shall be kept at every election Of
the names OF the voters, which shall be
prepared BY the Clerk of the Board Of
Supervisors, and delivered by him to
the commissioners appointed by the
Governor az aforesaid, who shall in due
time cause sufficient number thereof
to be placed in the hands of the COM
missioners appointed by them to super.
intend the polls Of the several places o.
voting in their respective counties.
IL. The said ballots shall be received
and deposited by the said commission
ers as is now provided for in the general
election law, and Immediately upon the
conclusion Of the several polls, the bal
lots shall be counted, and the correct
ness and the result thereof shall be GER
tised BY the commissioners superintend-
ing the same. to the following effect:
1--WE the undersigned, who acted as
commissioners at the poll taken At -.