The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-21
GENERAL ELECTION In ENGLAND.
How the English Nominate and Elect Their
Representatives.
IN. Y. Graphic.

Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland will be
In hubbub from Lands End to John-O-
aroats house. Already the busy hum Of
preparation for the general election Is heard,
towns and counties Of England, Ireland and
Scotland Some OF the members have already
obtained leave Of absence and have fastened
to their respective homes to prepare for the
campaign, which is to be 20 sharp, short and
decisive. The writs for the elections are to
be issued on Wednesday, the twenty-fourth,
and the elections themselves will take place
within ten days thereafter. Under the new
election law the procedure OF elections In the
the Old methods which existed before s the i pas
sage OF either the last reform bill or the
ballot act. Immediately after the writs for
the elections are received by the sheriffs OF
the counties or the municipal authorities Of
nominations. Anybody may be q candidate
who is prepared to deposit with the sheriff or
the other proper officer his share OF the cleo
ton expenses. These are all borne by the
candidates and their friends, the independent
British voter paying nothing. At the ap-
pointed time and place the candidate, accom-
panied by u body OF hts friends, appears on q
platform erected for the purpose, or some
times on the balcony OF o public house. A
friend Of one OF the candidates. generally
prefacing the announcement with q short
speech euloglstic Of his choice, dominates his
friend as "fit and suitable person" to repre-
sent the constituency In Parliament; another
friend OF the same candidate seconds the
nomination; and the candidate himself prob
ably makes q few remarks. This procedure
is followed by the friends Of the other candi-
dates, and the presiding officer of the meet
Ing, who Is generally the sheriff or the mayor,
calls for show Of hands as an indication OF
the Wish OF the assembled crowd Except
10 In ca" case where there ia. but one candl-
date, and therefore no contest this show
OF hands Is always disputed. and the presid-
ing officer then announces that poll will be
opened next day. The poll is inside OF q house
number Of small closets arranged on one side
OF the room, each furnished with shelf
upon which one may write. voter on en-
tering the polling place Is presented with a
ballot containing the names OF each OF the
candidates. He Is instructed to enter one OF
these closets, and make q cross opposite the
name Of the candidate for whom he Intends to
VOTE He is then instructed to fold his ballot
80 that this mark cannot be seen. and to take
1t to the receiving officer, who sits behind q
table, upon which is spread out the registra-
ton list. This registration list has been pre-
pared long beforehand and carefully ecrutin.
lied by the the agents OF both parties. II the
voters name iS found inscribed thereon, hie
ballot is received and dropped into the ballot.
box. At sunset the voting ends, and with
certain prescribed formalities the ballot-boz
| is opened and the votes are counted by the
receiving officer In the presence OF the can.
didates, Ii they wish 1t, and OF one or more Of
| their friends. The result is then certified and
the return forwarded to the Speaker OF the
House OF Commons.
Before the day either Of nomination or cleo
! ton, however, each intending candidate Issues
to the voters OF the constituency an address
! setting forth his opinions on the questions oil
the day. and promising to give his support te
| such measures as he believes the best inter.
ests OF the country demand. The prepare
| tion OF these addresses has become profes
sion OF Its own, many OF the candidates hay
Ing wise distrust Of their own qualifications
for such q task, and employing for the pur
pose adrott writer's, often attaches OF news
paper offices or solicitors. No sooner are the
addresses Issued than personal canvassine
| begins, and the candidate accompanied by
dozen or more OF his friends, goes from house
to house, visiting each voter and seeking tx
| extract from him the promise OF his support
Under the existing laws extreme care has tx
be taken to prevent everything that can be
twisted into bribery or promise OF favol
taking place during this canvass, either By
the candidate himself or any one acting II
his name, either known to himself or un
known for could such bribery or promise O
favor be shown to the satisfaction Of tn,
judges-who now, In place of the former com
these matters-the election OF the candidate
Dy whom or In whose name these act
were done would be invalidated, and he would
be disfranchised from sitting In Parliamen
for the next seven years. Besides the privat.
canvassing numerous public meetings ar.
held. at which generally all the candidate!
appear and discuss the questions OF the day
bOisterOus and break up In rows. Public
houses, during the days Intervening between
| the issuing Of the candidates addresses ana
i the election, do8 roaring trade, but also herr