Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-10-27
10 Supervisors OF Election
OFFICE OF THE SUP'v'R OF ELECTIONS. }

OFFICE OF THE SUP'v'R OF ELECTIONS, }
Eastern District of North Carolina,
RALEIGH, N. g., Sept. 23d, 1876. !
The following digest of go much of
the Revised Statutes of the United
States, little 26. The Election Fran
ca Sc" as relates to the powers and
duties Of Supervisors of Election in
North Carolina, is promulgated for
the information ana guidance of all
ncerned therein:
pointed by the Circuit Court on the
cinct or county, through the Chief
pleasure of the Court.
| 2. Two Supervisors are appointed
for each precinct, of opposite politi>
cal sentiments, who must be voters
therein, and able to read and write
ths nglish language.
3. They must take and subscribe
the statutory oath of Office and file the
same with the Chief Supervisor before
entering upon duty.
4. They are required to attend at
the place of registration and of voting
at all timer when a member of Con
gress or other United States officer is
| to be elected.
5. They are to take, occupy and
| hold, such positions as in their judg-
ment will best enable them 10 see the
ballot boxes, and the persons offerin e.;
to register and vote, and to scrutiGize
the manner in which the registration
and voting 10 being conducted.
! 6. They are TO mark for challenge
any person known or suspected to be
wrongfully offering to register or vote,
and to note upon the books the name
| of any person who may be fraduleutIy
| allowed or refused to register and
| vote.
z. They must personally inspect and
I scrutlnize the registry and poll books,
| and may affix their signatures to each
| page thereof, in such manner as to
; enable them to detect and expose any
| wrongful addition or removal of names
or checks therein.
8. They are to personally count and
scrutinize each ballot in the canvass.
| after the close of the Polls on election
| day, in whatever place or box found,
, and however said box, place or ballot
may be endorsed or labeled, and not
to leave the plate of registration or
| voting until such registration or vot>
ing, together with the canvass aud
counting of the votes, and ali the res
| ports, returns, certificates and state
ments, or copies thereof, relating to
such registration or election, are
! wholly completed.
9. They must Immediately forward
| to the Chief Supervisor of the District
full and detailed statement, undea.
oath. of every unlawful registration or
70 off
lawful registration or vote offered and
refused every unlawful attempt to
hinder, delay, prevent. or obstruct any
| person entitled to register or vote,
| from registering Or voting, or to allow
! any person not entitled to register or
vote !; every attempt by bribery, So
licitation, interference, hindrance. mo-
lestation, violence, or threats thereof.
on the part If any person or persons
| whatever, to prevent the Supervisors
or other officers, from fully and freely
performing all the duties of their
office at such registration and election:
| and generally, every violation of the
law relating to such election, together
with the names of the offenders and
| witnesses thereof.
10. Supervisors have no power to
make arrests except when summoned
| thereto by the Deputy Marshal, and
have no authority whatever except at
the time and place of registration and
voting, and in the presence of the Off
GERS holding the same, including the
counting of the votes and making re
turns thereof.
IL. Supervisors of election, while on
duty, are not subject to arrest by any
State authority or process wi .tever,
and III no such case should submit to
| arrest.
II. In conclusion, / have only to
! say that-tbe manifest intent and pur-
pose of the law under which Super
visors of Election are appointed, is to
! secure fair election, and while as cit
liens they have the undoubted right
to indulge IN political preferences, and
enforce, as they may be able, their par
tizan convictions, theyshave no such
| lights as Supervisors of Election, and
| the exercise or attempt to exercise
them is inconsistent with their duty,
and in violation of the oath required
TO be taken for the faithful and impar-
tlal performance of their duties, and
as they are appointed from the best
men of the two leading political par
ties, it is expected that they will chal-
leDge the respect of all by mingling
courtesy vii b frmness in their official
demeanor. A. W. SHAFRR,
o. s. Commissioner and Chief Super
visor.