Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-25
A New Election Law.

'Na W
Assembly bill No. &C, introduced by
Mr.. Crawford February II, which was
referred to the Committee on Elec-
tons, and ordered printed, entitled
IAN Act relating to Elections The
bill is very long. and we are therefore
Obliged to give merely q synopsis of
it, main provisions.
The time of the general election is
not changed. The n of ap-
pointing inspectors and clerks of cleo
ton is substantially the same as at
present.
The preparation of the ballots diff
fers somewhat from the California
law, in that the said ballots must on
form in color, size, form, and texture,
to the requirements set forth in the
proclamation for the election by the
Commissioners Of each county and
the ballots may be open or folded, as
the voter may choose. The ballots
may be written or printed, on one
piece of paper. The ticket must be
free from marks, characters, or any
device or thing that would enable any
person to distinguish, by the back, or
when folded. the ticket from any
other legal ballot. 1t is made the duty
Of the Board of County Commissioners
to prescribe in their proclamation the
color, size, form, and texture of all
ballots to be used in their respective
counties at the ensuing election.
The manner of receiving the ballots
by the inspectors is to be the same as
ut present provided. So also are the
directions as to the counting of the
votes. and the making out and fol-
warding Of returns.
An adjournment of the polls may
be made for one hour in the day, at
any time a majority of the inspectors
may think fit but previous to the adj
journment the votes thus far received
must be counted, and. together with
the poll-books, placed in the ballot
box the key must then be given
to n inspector, and the box to
another. Another inspector must
previously seal the box by FASTING a
seal over the aperture in the lie. When
the poll is again opened, the box
must be delivered to the Board Of In
spectors, when the seal shall be pub
licly broken, the poll-books taken out
and the bOx apain locked
When more names are written or
printed OF the ballot for persons to
be voted for than are to be chosen for
the office named, all the names de-
signated for such office are to be
rejected.
When a printed and a written name
appears for persons to be voted for an
office, and there are not sc many per-
sons to he chosen for said office, the
printed m must be rejected, and the
written one counted. No other mar
ner of substituting names OF a ballot
is to be allowed than by the use of a
lead pencil or a pen and ink. Names
substituted in any other manne will
be erased !; but if the original name
ON the ballot, in such a ca sc, can be de-
ciphered, it is to be counted.
1t is made a misdemeanor for any
one to bet on the success or failure of
any candidate, or ur, the number OF
votes to be cast for any candidate.
Challenging and administering of
oaths are provided for in the same
way as at present.
All ballots rejected during the
counting are to be sealed in packages,
Endorsed with the reason of their re-
lection. and forwarded in the return
with the rest of the ballots.
Section q contains a singular pro.
vision, and one which leaves to chance
the whole result of the election. 1t
reads as follows "lfthe ballots in
the box shall be found to exceed in
number the whole number of votes
on the poll lists, they shall he re
placed in the box, after being purged
rs above that is, of all double votes,
and one of the inspectors, with his
back turned to the box, shall publicl Y
draw out and destroy therefrom so
many ballots, unopened, as shall
equal the excess" The number OF
votes tailed on the poll lists being
thus made to agree, the counting of
the ballots for each candidate then
proceeds As if nothing had happened {!
A man might as we'll leave his chances
Of success as a candidate to the decis-
ion of a lottery wheel. a to the I'M
certainty of such a procedure as the
above.
The bill then gives the blank forms
10 be filled up by the inspectors, the
manner of sealing and transmitting
the packages of votes to the Clerk of
the County Commissioners, etc. Then
the Board of County Commissioners
Is provided, as now. with power to
open and count the ballots, and make
10000 80 xko ~ot,pnc IF tho ca mn