The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-10-01
COLUMBIA, S. 6.
Thursday Morning. October l. 1874.
Maohinsry sf tho Election Laws.

Machinery sf tho Election Laws.
In his attempt to speak the other
evening in Charleston. Judge Mackey,
finding lions in his way, turned into a
side path and belabored Bowen. This
secured him a little. attention. aud be
went on long enough TO characterize
as an absurdity the idea of getting a
fair cGnnt from such a Commissioners
Of Elections This raised oar curi!
ostty. and induced us to look into the
statutes to see the driit OF the eleotion
laws. We fiud them to have been
originally drawn 30 as to work ont par
tisan results and to enable oommis-
sioners aud managers to elect man
whether he had majority of votes or
not. But they are little modified
since those days.
The time Of holding the general
elections in this State was changed at
the last session Of the General Assem-.
bly, from the third "Wednesday in %
tober to the first Tuesday following the
6rst Monday in November, which will
be on the 81 of that month. Tie
qualification pteaoribed for voters is
that. without distinction OF race or
color, they shall be of the age of
twenty one years. not labor uuder disa
bilitiee; and shall have resided in the
State one year and in the County sixty
days preceding the election. For eaoh
County there are to be appointed, by
the Governor. three Commissioners of
Election at least sixty days prior to tho
time Of holding it. We understand
that. at the request OF the State Exc.
cutive Committee OF the Republican
party. some appointlhents have been
made within this time. How this is.
fhowsyer, We do not know certainly.
These Commissioners of Election are
authoriz I'd and empowered to appoint
thres NJ ,nagers OF Election for each
election precinct. Both the commits
sioners and the M ,nagers take the
oath Of offios prescribed by the Con,
stitutiol. For each election preciut
the C,m nissiouers ure to provide Que
box, to be labelled "Congress."
'sStste." County" &c., in which the
ballots shull be deposited. At tho
close of the election, the managers aud
clerk, whom they are directed to ap-
point. shall procsed. publicly. to open
the ballot box aud count the ballots,
and continue until completed, and
m Ike such statement of the result. aud
sign it. as the nature of the election
shalt require. Within three days
thereafter. the chairman, or q mem
Der to be designated. shall deliver
to the Commissioners OF Election
the poll-list, the boxes containing the
ballots, aud written statement OF tue
result of the election in MS precinct.
These commissioners meet at the Oouu-
ty seat, aud organize as County
Board OF Oanvassers, on the Tuesday
following the election, just one week
after the pending election has taken
place. They may appoint secretary,
and they all take the constitutional
oath. They shall then proceed, as the
Act states, to count the votes of the
County. ane shall make such state
ments thereof as the nature of the cleo.
tion shall require, within ten days of
the time of their first meeting as q
Board of County Canvassers. aud shall
transmit to the Board of State Canvas
sers certified copies of any protest and
OF all papers relating to the election.
This is body composed Of the Score
tary of State, Comptroller General.
Attorney General, State Treasurer,
Adjatant and Inspector. G., ,eral. and
Chairman of the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections of tke House OF
Representatives. They are to make
statement of the whole number OF
votes given at the elections for the Va
rious officers, and for each of them
voted for in all the Counties, deter.
mine tho result. and deliver a oertif-
cate IN thak effact IN Tho Soosoa,,u - 6