The Portland daily press., 1876-11-16
Florida.
How They Count Votes There-The Can
wasting boards.

The Florida Sun, published and edited by
Mr., N. K. Sawyer, formerly editor of the Ellis
worth American, publishes in its issue of last
Saturday full account of the manner in
which returns are canyassed in that state, pref
acing the account with declaration that
fraud is wel-nigh impossible. The Sun saws:
The air has been full of rumors for day or
two of contemplated frauds in the returDs of
votes in this state the suppostion that the result
of the Presidential election hinged on Florida's
four votes furnishing the necessity and the
reason of it.
1t is almost an impossibiity for such thing
to be successfully carried out by any party or
set of politicians, for the exact result of the
vote in every polling place in the state is known
by scores of men and has been, or will be, pub
lished to the world in all the newspapers in the
state, so that such fraud as many are talking
of as being among the probabilities of the next
few weeks cannot we'll be consummated.
By the election law OF the state the county
commissioners of each county are commanded
to appoint three discreet electors to be inspect
ors for each place of voting within county and
designate the places of voting. The inspectors
choose clerk, sc. As soon as the polls of an
election shall be finally closed the inspectors
canvass, an public the vote When the canvass
is completed, duplicate certificates of the
result are drawn up by the inspectors or
clerk. containing in words written at
full length, the name of each person
voted for, for each office. the number of votes
cast for each person for such offices, which Ger
titcates shall be signed by the inspectors aud
clerk. and one such certificate shall by one of
their number, be without delay delivered, Sc
ourely sealed, to the clerk of the Circuit Court
and the other to the county judge of the
county; and the poll list and oaths of the in
spectors and clerks shall be transmitted with
the certificate to the clerk of the Circuit Court,
to be fled in his Office
On the sixth day after election, or sooner if
the returns shall have been received, it shall be
the duty of the county judge and clerk of the
Circuit Clerk to meet at the Office of said clerk
and take to their assistance justice of the
peace of the county land in the case of sick
ness of the judge or clerk the sheriff shall act)
and shall publicly proceed to canvass the votes
gwen for the several offices and persons as
shown by the returns on file in the office of such
clerk or judge. aud there shall make and sign
duplicate certificates of the result, sc. Such
certificate shall be recorded by the clerk in
book kept BY him for that purpose, and one of
such certificates shall be Immediately trans
mitted 3y mail to the Secretary of State, and
the other to the Governor of the State.
BY the amended law of 1872 it is declared
that on the thirty fifth day after the holding
of any general or special election, or sooner If
the returns shall have been received, the Secre-
tary of State, Attorney General and the Comp
troler of Public Accounts, or any two of th9m.
| together with any other member OF the Cabinet
who may be designated by them, shall meet at
the office of the Secretary OF State pursuant to
| notice to be given by said Secretary and form a
l board of State Canvassers, and proceed to can
| yass the returns of said election, and determine
| and declare who shall have been elected to any
| Office, or as such member of the Legislature as
| shown by the returns.
| If any such returns shall be shown, or shall
appear to be so irregular, or false or fraudulent,
| that the board shall be unable to determine the
| true vote for any such officer. or member, they
| shall so certify, and shall not include such re-
4 tnr N their Discrimination nd 1anIaroAinn
| and the Secretary of State shall preserve aud
file in his office all such returns, together with
| such other documents aud papers as may have
been received By him, or by said board of can
vassers. The board shall make and sign a GER
liticate, which shall be recorded, SC, &c, and
| certified copy of such certificate shall be pub
lished in one or more newspapers at the seat of
| government.