Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-26
POINTS FOR VOTERS.
COrpOrafiOn and State Laws on the
Subfect Of Elections.


1t is of the highest importance in the
city election to be held to-day, that the
Judges in the several wards, and ali good
citizens, should understand the law on the
subject of elections. We therefore give
the law as contained in the City Digest and
the Code of Tennessee, and suggest that
the extracts Re preserved for reference.
The corporation law is as follows:
"rhe voters shall vote by ballot; every
male Of the age of twenty-one years and
upwards, being entitled to cote By the lars
of this State, ICho shall haze resided tcith-
In the city sic months merit preceding The
election at which he may oferto vote, shall
be entitled to vote, but only in the ward
where he resides. Non-residents owning a
freehold in said city, being qualified TO vote
for members of the General Assembly OF
the State of Tennessee, shall be entitled to
vote in the ward where their freehold is
situated. And such persons owning real
estate in more wards than one, he or they
may elect in which of said wards to vote,
but shall not be allowed to vote in more
than one" See Lellyett's Digest, page CO.
In regard to challenging votes, the State
law, contained in the Code of Tennessee
Thompson & Steger) sections $50, $50
and S54, is rs follows:
section $50. If any person offers to vote
and none of the judges know that he is q
qualified voter, or if his vote is objected to
by any candidate or other citizen Of this
State, the judges of the election, or some
one Of them, or the officer or person hold
ing the election, may under the direction
OF the judges, or a majority Of them, adj
minister an oath in the following form, OF
to the following effect;
You do solemnly swear that you will
true answers make to such questions as may
be asked you, touching your qualifications
or right to vote in the present election; so
help your God
''Sec- $50. The judges or some Of them
shall then ask the person Offering to vote
the following questions:
'Are you citizen Of the State of Ten.
nessee?'
Are you twenty-one years Of age?
DO you reside in this cItye'
HAS your home been in this city six
months next before this day? (the day o.
holding the election.
Have you voted at any other time OF
place al this election? And any other
questions the judges may think material to
ascertain the qualification of the person Of
feri0g to vote And if they, or any one OF
them, have reason to suspect that the per
son Offering to vote has sworn falsely, they
or the officer, or some justice of the peace
under their direction, may swear any by.
stander as to the right and qualifications o.
such person to vote.
Sec. S54. The said questions having beer
asked and answered and the testimony Of
bystanders taken if desired, If the judges OF
majority Of them are satisfied
that the person offering to vote is citizen
of this State; that he is twenty-one years
old; that he has had his home in the city
in which he offers to vote, siI months nert
preceding; that he has not voted before the
same election; and that he is otherwise
qualified, the judges shall thereupOn receive
his votes
1t will be noticed that the person offer
ing to vote, when his right to do so is
challenged, must prove it to the satisfaction
of the judges. His own cath is not suf-
ficient, nor is any testimony sufficient I'M
less it is satisfactory to the board Of judges