The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-11-30
ELEo1ToN BOARDS.


The carelessness in counting the votes at
elections, as exhibited in two recent instances,
has led to the question whether it is safe III
any case to trust TO the FIRST count of election
boards. On this subject the State Gazette
remarks
The circumstances in connection with the
recounting of votes in the contested Senatorial
election in Essex and in the Third Assembly
District of this county, that has excited the
greatest public astonshment, was the re-
markable discrepancy that was discovered to
exist between tho official count as made
and declared by the precinct election boards
on the night of the election, and the careful
recount of the same ballots made under the
direction of Justice of the Supreme Court
by intelligent and experienced men. In nearly
every precinct in the city of Newark and the
townships of the county of Essex mistakes OF
greater or lesser magnitude were discovered
TO have been made by the first official count.
These inaccuracies were of the most serious
character, involving in some cases change
of twenty-five or thirty votes IN single poll
ing place. AT one stage of the recount Mr..
officially declared majority of forty-six. a
day later this gain bad been wiped out and
his majority reduced to nineteen. The result
of the next days count was to increase his
majority to thirty-eight. Not less serious DIS
crepances were discovered by the recount in
the Third Assembly District of this county
In fact they were more serious, for they re-
~ Aaaf nd in fttl-
terially modifying the political complexion oil
the next House of Assembly.
'sThe disclosures thus made of the utter un-
reliability of official election returns, as made
up by the precinct boards, is far from feassur-'
ing. Aud the fact that mistakes were found
to exist in almost every precinct is u really
alarming circumstance. If this is the way IN
which these delicate and momentous duties OF
counting the votes and declaring the results
OF election are performed all over the State
there is no certainty at all that the results
thus officially declared represent the real pur-
pose of the votes and the true tale of the bal
lots cast. If the counting is done IN this Slip
shod and inaccurate fashion, everybody pro-
nounced defeated by anything less than an
overwhelming majority would be justified in
demanding recount. 1t is very serious
business. and earnest efforts should be made
to have this evil corrected.
q The chief source of the difficulty lies, of
course, in the selection Of incompetent and
unfit men for precinct election officers. These
positions are often sought after aud obtained
by men who want them for the paltry COM
ponsation attached, idle and shiftess watts of
humanity who are always floating about snap
ping up such little jobs. They are generally
.-tney are Impecunfous. -Tneir sl0wness aud
bunGling stupidity in counting the votes and
making up the returns on election night il
positively unnerving to spectators of average
intelligence. The existence of this evil has
long been known to aud deplored by the
voters, but careless neglect of duty has per-
mitted it to go uncorrected. The mischief
has now become so patent and SO serious that
it will probably work its own cure. Both
parties will hereafter most likely exercise
greater care in the selection of these election
boards. They should invariably be composed
OF competent and trustworthy men, men of
experience and character, whose declaration
Of results would have the public confidence
and respect