Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-10-13
OFFICE OF THE SUP'v'R OF ELECTIONS.
Eastern District of North Carolina,

RALEIGH, N. O., Sept. 23d, 1876.
The following digest of 20 much Of
the Revised Statutes Of the United
States, little 26. The Election Fran
ca lse, AZ 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 ap-
pointed by the Circuit Court on the
application of ten citizens of . pre-
ciuct 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 politi>
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 to attend at
the place of registration and of voting
at all times when a member of Con
gress or other United Suites officer is
to be elected.
Is. They are 10 take, occupy and
hold, such positions as in their judg
ment will best enable them 10 zee the
ballot boxes, and the persons offering
to register aud vote, and to scrutinizs
the manner in which the registration
and voting is being conducted.
g. They are to mark for challenge
any person known or suspected to be
wrongfully offering to register or vote,
ard to note upon the books the name
of any persoc vino may be fradulently
allowed or refused to register and
vote.
7. They must perso naliy inspe''t nd
scrut,nize the registry and poll books,
and may affix their signatures to each
page thereof, in such manner as to
enable them to detect aud 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 place of registration Or
voting until such registration OR vot
ing, together with the canvass and
counting of the votes, aud all the res
ports, returns, certificates and state
ments, or copies thereof, relating to
such registration or election, are
wholly completed.
8. Thsy must Immediately forward
to the Ohief Supervisor of the District
a full and detailed statement, et,ader
oath. of every unlawful registration or
vote offered or accepted, and of every
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-
lestatinn, violence, or threats thereof,
on the part Of any person or persons
Whatever, to prevent the Supervisors
OF 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. Superv isors have no power to
make arrests except when summoned
thereto by the Deputy Marshal, and
have 10 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 in no such cuse should submit to
arrest.
70. In conclusion, [ have only to
saw that the manifest intent and pur-
pose of the law under which Super
visors of Election are appointed, lis to
secure a 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, theythave 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 Impair
tial 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-
lenge the respect of all by mingling
courtesy vii b firmness in their official
demeanor. A. W. SHAFER,
q. 8. Commissioner and Chief Super
visor.