Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-11-17
Tho Louisiana Election Law.

The following synopsis Of the Louisiana
election law and the powers and duties Of
the Returning Board, was furnished to
reporter of the Cincinnati Commercial by
WM. VI. AMPT, Esq, lawyer of that city
1t seems to us that it ought to be ample to
protect the rights OF the voter in a com
munity where any regard is paid to law
and order, ms it seems especially design
cd to protect the ballot box from fraud:
In the first place, the constitution Of the
State DISTINGUISHES all persons convicted of
treason, perjury, forgery, bribery or felony,
and the election laws specify more offenses
for which severe punishment is inflicted
than we do in Ohio. Repeating bribery,
corruption, intimidation, etc, arc all Sc.
verely punished. The Constitution pro-
| vides that free suffrage shall be supported
by law regulating elections, and prohibit
! ing, under adequate penalties, all undue
influence from bribery, tumult or other
improper practice. They have there sys-
tenn of registration which is under the con-
troll OF n Supervisor of Registration. The
registration is made in the usual way, and
is required by the Constitution. The enane
u,
and certificate of registration is given
him, and he can only vote in the election
precincts where he is registered. The Su-
pervisor appoints three Commissioners Of
Election, who oficiate at the polls. They
are, OF course, sworn. A copy Of the reg
istration list is furnished them. They
either receive the vote from the voter and
deposit ii in the ballot box, or the voter
himself puts il into the box il he prefers.
II is made crime for an yhOdy else 10 Ia Ike
q ballot out of the hands of a voter with
the intent to hand it to the Commissioners
II this is done, or attempted, the evil doer
may be arrested at the instance Of the
Commissioners, or any arresting officer, and
kept under guard until the polls close, a
least one quarter of n mile away. Th,
certificate of registration is then stamped
in order to prevent repeating, and record
ed in list of the persons voting, CORES
pOIding to our poll books
After the polls close, this list is signe,
aud certified to under oath by the Com
missioners as correct. Slips of paper ar
pasted over the key hole and the opening
ut the top OF the ballot box, and til
names OF the Commissioners are writer
ON the paper slips which are fastene,
down with senling wax and stamped wit
seal. The poll book thus certified an
the ballot.box thus fastened, are transmit
ted to the Supervisor who, at the time h
receives them, is obliged by law to not
the condition OF the box and the sea
thereon, and when all are received i
opens the boxes in the presence Of III
Commissioners and three citizen freeholc
ers and counts the ballots, keeping III
OF any ballots that may lie rejected NJ
ting the reason therefor, and makes a Ia
ly sheet OF the votes cast.
lie sends copy OF this poll book and
the tAlly-sheet, with all the memoranC
used in making the count, together vii
= any statement Of violence or intimidatiC
that may have occurred, to the Govern,
OF the State by mail. second copy to Il
Governor by private conveyance, and
third copy he retains. So you see the re
ord OF the Louisiana election is to-day
triplicate, mak ing frauds by the destru
tion OF papers impossible.
There Is a great fuss made about this r
turning Board, as though it was somethi
exceptional. 1t is merely a Canvassi
Y Board. Every State has them. Il
County Clerk, with Justices Of the Pea,
canvass the returns for every county ell,
tion. This is what the Louisiana Boa
does 1t is composed Of the Govern
:. Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary OF Stl
and two citizens, and they take an ir
clad oath Carefully and honestly to ca
yass and compile the statements of /
votes returned by the Supervisors of n
istration."
They meet within ten days after I
N election, November II, at the furth,
They proclaim the result and certify it
the Secretary OF State, md their dccisi
Is prind faeie correct, until set aside by cC
u test IN the manner provided by law.
The statutes require them first to CT
yaSs all returns which nre not accom-
MED by statements of violence, and nj
that hey take up the other returns. I'll
examine the testimony accompany
them, and il they are convinced that
lie acts Of violence, riot, tumult, intimidati
armed disturbances, bribery, etc, did
materially interfere with the purity a
freedom Of the election, or did not prev
sufiioent number OF voters from regist
en- ing to effect the result materially, then q
a not otherwise shall the returning oflic
canvass the vote. II they are not fu
satisfied, Il Is their duty 10 examine (
ther Testimony. II then they are satisi
I'm that the purity and freedom Of the elect
pr were interfered with. or a sufficient nu
ie- ber were prevented from registering
le- change the result materially, the retu
must be excluded. This is the law. i
not for Ohio nor any other State TO gu
lion the policy Of Louisana's Law,