Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-10-20

OFFICE Of THE 3UPv CT ELECTIONS, J
Eastern District OF North Carolina.

OFFICE Of THE 5UP'v CT ELECTIONS,
Eastern District OF NortI, Carollna. :
RALEIGH, n. q, Sept. 23d. 1876. !
The following digest Of so much of
the Revised Statntes of the United
States, Title 26. The Election Fran
Gu Sc All relates To the powers and
duties Of Supervisors OF Election in
North Carolina, Is promulgated for
the information and guidance of all
concerned therein:
/. Supervisors of Election are APP
pointed by tie Circuit Court on the
applications OF ten citizens Of pre-
cinct or county, through the Chief
Supervisor, and hold Office during the
pleasure of the Court.
2. Two Supervisors are appointed
for each precinct, Of opposite pohti~
Cal sentiments, who must be voters
therein, and able to read and write
the English 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 10 attend at
the place of registration and of voting
at al times when a member Of CON
gress or other Omitted States officer is
to be elected.
5. They are to take, occupy and
hold, such positions as i'll their judg-
ment will best enable Thorn 10 see the
ballot boxes, and the persous offori a e.
to register and vote, and TO sarutiuiz9
the manner in which the registration
aud voting IS being conducted.
s. They are to mark for challenge
any peraOn known or suspected to be
~. III 70 -
and to note upon the books the name
of any person who may be fradulent!y
| allowed or refused to register ard
! vote.
7. They must personally inspect ana
acrutnize the registry and poll books,
| and may atf1 tn II signatures to each
| page thereof, il such luanner as TO
! enable them to detect and expose any
! wrongful! addition OF removal of names
; OF checks GhereIu.
| 8. They are to personally count and
scrutinize each ballot in he CANVASS,
after the close of the Polls Gu election
| day, III whatever pl &c Or box found,
and however said box. place CT ballot
! may be endorsed or labeled, and not
to leave the place Of registration OF
voting until such registration or vot
| ing, together with the canvass and
counting Of the votes, and all the res
| ports, returns, certificates and state
ments, or copi2s thereof, relating to
such registration or election, are
wholly completed.
9. They must immediately forward
t to the Chief Supervisor of the District
a full and detailed statement, at5a0e,.
oath, of every Unlawful registration or
vote offered or accepted, and of every
lawful registration OF vote offered and
refused every unlawful attempt to
| hinder, delay, prevent or ohstruct any
person entitled to register or vote,
from registering or voting, or to allow
any person not untitled to register or
vote every attempt by bribery, So
licitation, interference, hindrance, mo,
hesitation, violence, or threats thereof.
on the part # any person or persons
whatever, to prevent the Supervisors
or other officers, from fully ara freely
performing all the duties Of their
office at sIch 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 whatever,
and III no such Gaze should submit to
arrest.
-. In conclusion, I have only to
say that the 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 III 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 lpar-
tlal performance of their duties, and
rs they are appointed from the best
men Of the two leading political par
ties, it is expected that they will chal-
ienge the respect Of all by mingling
courtesy wi b frmness in their official
demeauor. A W. SHAFER.
.. S. Commissioner and Chief Super
visor.