The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-10-06

out requiring such proof, every person so
offending shall upon conviction, be guilty |
of misdemeanor. and shall be sentenced
for every such offence TO pay n fine not ex
ceeding five hundred dollars, or to under
go an imprisonment not more than one
year, or both at the discretion of the
court.
SEC. I3. As soon as the polls shall close,
the officers Of election shall proceed TO
count all the votes cast for each candidate
voted for, and make n full return of the
same in triplicate, with a return sheet in
addition, in all OF which the vote received
by each candidate shall be given after his
OF her name, first in words and again i'm
figure, and Shall be signed by all of said
officers and certified by overseers, II any,
or If n so certified, the overseers, and
any officer refusing to sign or certify, OF
either of them, shall write upon each of
the returns his or their reasons for not
signing or certifying them. The vote, as
soon as counted shall also be publicly
and fully declared from the window to
the citizens present, and brief statement
showing the votes received by each candi-
date shall be made and signed bv the cleo
tion officers as soon as the vote is counted
and the same shall he Immediately posted
up ON the door of the election house for
information OF the public. The triplicate
returns shall be enclosed in envelopes and
| be sealed in the presence of the officers,
| and one envelope, with the unsealed re-
4
contain one list of voters. tally-paper, and
oaths of officers, and another of said en-
velopes shall be given 10 the minority in
| spector. All judges living within twelve
miles of the prothonotary's office, or with
in twenty-four miles, If their resiuence be
in a town, village, or city upon the line of
a railroad leading 10 the county seat, shall.
before two o'clvck post meridian of the
day after the election, and AL other Judges
shall, before twelve o'clock meridian OF
the second day after the election, deliver
| said return, together with return sheet
to tho prothonotary of the court of COM
mon pleas of the county, which said re-
turn sheet shall lie filed and the day and
hour of filing marked thereon, and shall
be preserved by the prothonotary for pub
lie inspection. At twelve o'clock on the
second day following any election, the
prothonotary of the court of Common
pleas shall present the said returns to the
said court. In counties where there is no
resident president judge, the associate
judges shall perform the duties imposed
upon the court of common pleas. which
shall convene for said purpose; the re-
turns presented by the prothonotary shall
be opened by said court and computed by
such of its officers, and such sworn assist
ants as the court shall appoint, in the pres
ence of the judge or judges of said court,
and the returns certified and certificates
of election issued under the seal of the
court as is now required to be done by re-
turn judges and the vote as so computed
and certified, shall he made a matter of
record in said court. The sessions of the
said court shall be open TO the public.
And in case the return of any election dis.
trict shall be missing when the returns
are presented, or in case of complaint OF a
qualified elector under oath, charging pal
pable fraud or mistake, and particularly
specifying the alleged fraud or mistake, or
Where fraud or mistake Is apparent in the
return, the court shall examine the re-
turn. and if in the judgment of the court
1t shall be necessary to a just return, said
court shall issue summary process against
the election officers and overseers. III anv
OF the election district complained Of TO
bring them forthwith into court, with ali
election papers in their. possession; and if
I paipable mistake or fraud shall be discoV-
cred, 1t shall, upon such hearing as NAV
be deemed necessary to enlighten the
court, be corrected by the court, and so
certified; all allegations of palpable
fraud or m 20 shall be decided by the
said court Wltlin three days after the day
the returns are brought into court for COM
putation; and the said inquiry shall he
directed OILY to palpable fraud or mistake
and shall not be deemed judicial adiudi-
cation to conclude any contest now or
hereafter TO be provided by law and the
other or said triplicate returns shall be
placed in the box and sealed up with tho
ballots. Nothingin this act shall require the
returns OF election of township or borough
officers to be made To the court as directed
in this section; but all returns of the cleo
ton of township or borough officers shall
be enclosed in sealed cover, directed to
the prothonotary of the court of common
pleas of the proper county, and shall, by
some one Of them, be delivered into this
office within three days after every such
: election and filed therein. In counties
where there are three or more Judges of
said court learned in the law, at least two
judges shall sit to compute and certify re-
! turns, unless unavoidably prevented. Ii
any of the judges shall hfiEsSif be can
! didate for any Office at any election, he
, shAll not sit with the court, or act in count
ing the returns of such election and i'm
! such cases the other judges, III any, shall
act, and III in any county there shall be
no judge qualified to hold the said court,
under the provisions of this act, present
: and able 70 net, then, and in every such
case, the register of wills, the sheriff and
the county commissioners of the proper
: county shall be and constitute hoard
!. who, or a majority of whom, shall have
and exercise all the powers and perform
all the duties vested IN, or required To be
performed by the court of common pleas
: OF such county. by and under the provis-
ions OF this section but none of the said
: officers shall act as q member of such
board when himself candidate for any
Office at the election, the returns OF which
: \ the said board is required to count under
the provisions of this section. Tho returns
] required by this act to be presented by the
' prothonotary of the courts of common
) pleas OF the counties of Philadelphia and
Allegheny, respectively, si,ali he present
7 cd b such three or moro Of the Judges oi
D the several courts of common pleas OF
: said counties, respectively, an the judges
D Of said courts, or a majority of them, riay
4 designate 10 perform the duty OF reeeiv-
D ing, computing and certifying said re-
: turns. When two or more counties are
4 connected for the election of any officer
r the courts of such counties shall each APP
Z point return judge to meet at such time