Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-01
THE LAW OF ELECTIONS.
Something for Voters, as well as Judges,
Clerks and Deputy-Sheriffs to Read
and Study-The Rights OF
All Citizens
Plainly Stated Who Can Vote anC
Where-When the Polls Open and
lOse-ChalleBges, How Made
and COnducted-Natural-
lied Citizens.

| ors themselves, to the following summary OF
| the law governing elections:
| All elections shall be by ballot which is de-
scribet as a ticket or scroll of paper pnrport,
| ing to express the voters choice, which shall
| be given by the voter to the officer or person
| holding an election, by him to be put IN the
ballot. box The ballot box is described as
| any receptacle provided by the person or
officer holding an election, for receiving The
ballots, which box is to be kept locked or
otherwise well secured until the election is
| finished The voter must give his ballot to
| the returning officer in presence OF the Judges
| or inspectors, to be put into the ballot box 10
presence of the judges. If the voters right
to cast the ballot is not questioned, the officer
receiving it shall not open and examine or
| read the ballot at tue time OF receiving 1t,
and before he deposits 1t IN the ballot box
| No person shall willfully and knowing
| ly impose upon any illterate voter
| ticket, in any election, contrary
| to his wish and desire, by falsely representing
| to such voter that the ticket proposed to him
ceives the ballot he shall call the name of the
voter in distinct voice, and the clerks of
| the election shall take down on separate lists
| or books the name OF every person voting,
| and shall attest the correctness OF them under
| their hands. The officer, or person, and
Judges appointed to hold an election shall
| not proceed to or commence counting out the
| votes given in the election until the polls
shall have been closed. When the election is
| finished, the returning officers and judges
| shall, IN THE PRESENCE OF EACH OF THE
| ELECTORS, AS MAY CHOOSE TO ATTEND,
| open the boxes and read aloud the names
| of the persons which shall appear in each
| ballot, and the clerks, at the same time.
! shall number the ballots, each clerk separate
| Iy. If there be two tickets rolled up together,
| or if any ticket contain the names OF more
persons than the elector has right to vote
for, in either of those cases such ticket shall
not be numbered In taking the ball~f, but
| shall be adjudged void. The inspectors have
authority to maintain regularity and order IN
the balloting; to keep access to the polls free
| and unobstructed to prevent all dlsorderly
and riotous conduct during the election and
during the counting of the votes after the
polls are closed and for this purpose they
are vested with all the powers of a poae0
officer.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE OF CHALLENGE.
If any person offers to vote, and none of
the Judges know that he is qualified voter,
or if his vote is objected to by any candidate
or other citizen of this State, the Judges OF
the election, or some of them, or the officer or
person holding the election, may, under the
direction of the judges, or majority of them,
administer an oath in the following form, to
the following effect:
''You do solemnly swear that you will true
answers make to such questions as may be
asked you touching your qualifications or
| right to vote in the present election; SO help
you God"
The Judges, or some Of them, shall then
ask the person offering to vote the following
questions:
Are you a citizen of the State of Tennes-
see?
Are you twenty-one years of age?
Do you reside in this county?
Has your home been in this county SIX
months next before this day Thursday Of
holding the election?
Have you voted at any other time or place
in this electionP
} And any other question he may think ma
terial to ascertain the qualification of the per.
, son offering to vote. And if they or any o.
them have reason to suspect that the person
Offering to vote has sworn falsely, they or the
: officer or some justice of the peace, under
their direction, may swear any bystander al
, to the right and qualification OF such pelsor
: to vote.
Sec. S54 The said questions having beer
asked and answered, and testimony OF by
2 ISLANDERS taken if desired, and If the judges O
3 a majority OF them are satisfied that he L
: otherwise qualified, the judges shall there
upon receive his vote.
NATURALIZED CITIZENS.
When any person not native born either
a of the United States offers to vote, and III
:. | vote is objected to, he shall produce a certi
= if the same is in his possession, showing tina
he has been declared by competent court
; citizen of the United States. If such copy o
4 his naturalization is not in his possession, b
q may be examined touching it; and 1t tn
= Judges should be satisfied, from his examina
e ton and other oral testimony, if any
e offered, that he is naturalized, they shall re
!, celve his vote. In like manner the part
j Offering to vote may be examined as to hi
+ naturalization when he produces copy G
q naturalization, and it is objected to on &C
q count OF authorization.
= ELECTION HOURS.
o In all elections in this State for electors
y etc.; judges of the supreme, chancery an
= circuit courts; Judges of the county courts, Il
r those counties where county judges ar
e elected; sherifs, clerks OF the circuit an
e county courts, registrars, trustees, justices G
n the peace c)nstables and attorneys general
l. the polls shall hereafter be opened at min
n O'Clock in the morning, and closed at fou
l. O'Clock in the evening.
u WHO TO HOLD ELECTION.
d Code of Tennessee, section 841. The count
y court at the session next preceding the da
h of election, shall appoint their inspectors an
J. judges for each voting place, to superinten
n the election.
% Sec. S42. IF the county court fail to max
/. the appointment, or any person appointed re
II fuse to serve, the sheriff, with advice of tire
G | r,
IF able freeholders, shall, before the beglnnin
r. of the election, appoint said inspectors c
lie judges.
II whose duty it is to attend at particular plaC
d of voting under the above provisions fail
r. attend, any justice OF the peace PRESENT, or,
is no Justice be present, any three treeholdel
,e may perform the duties prescribed by the pre-
g cediug section, and, in case of necessity, ma
act as officers or inspectors:
/. Sec S44. The officers or freeman holdin
le any election, or some justice OF the peace, bt
e. fore the opening of the polls shall admins
l. ter to the judges appointed the tolioWln
l. oath:
,e you do solemnly swear that as Jude
in of this election you will suffer no one to vol
I'd whom you know of your own knowledge,
d who appears either by his own oath or by I'll
A. testimony of others, not to be quaiihe
le voter; that you will not suffer the ballot be
Id to be out OF your presence or sight, unless
I'd be left In the Immediate care OF one of yor
id fellow-Judges, until every vote Is counte
t. out; that you will faithfully and impartial
Id conduct yourself judges of this election
IS and that you will in all respects perform IL
n duties imposed upon you by law as judge
E. and inspectors of this election; SO help yc
al God"
d. Sec. 845. The clerks of the different ele
st tions shall take the following oath: 'You {
A. solemnly swear that you will faithfully, tru
ed and impartially discharge your duty as cle
n of this election; so help you God" To be az
4ninistered by the same person who swea
the Judges,
,rt WHO AND WHERE TO VOTE.
Sc, Act 1870, chapter 10, section l. Every ma
p person of the age of twenty one years, beiI
IL a citizen of the United States and a reside
w of this State for twelve months, and of d
cir county wherein he may offer his vote for s
n months next preceding the day of electio
rt- shall he entitled to vote for members of Il
general assembly and other civil officers