The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-08-11
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

The several candidates for County
Commissioner, Treasurer, etc, should
bear in mind that the last Legislature
passed a stringent law for the govern
nent of primary elections. And for
the benefit of candidates, as well as
the election officers, and that they may
govern themselves accordingly we ap-
pend the act. This law was passed
for the purpose of preventing frauds
by both parties on such occasions, and
was approved by Governor Hoyt on
the Goth day of June
That from and after the passage of
this act it shall be lawful and it is
hereby made the duties of the Judges,
inspectors and clerks or other officers
of the primary elections, meetings or
caucuses held for the purpose of nomi-
mating candidates for state, city and
county offices within the common
wealth of Pennsylvania, before enter
ing upon the discharge of their duties.
severally to take and subscribe to an
oath or affirmation in the presence of
each other in form as follows. namely.
l "a. b. do that l will as iudge
inspector or clerk (asithe case NAV beI
at the ensuing election, impartiallv
and faithfully perform my duties in
accordance with the laws and consti-
tuition OF the wealth of Penn
syivania, ana IN accordance with the
rules ah1 regulations adopted by the
party OF the county of - for tbo
government of the said primary elac.
tions, meetings or caucuses to tha heot
of my judgment and abilities" Tho
oath or affirmation shall be first ad
ministered to the judge by one of the
inspectors, then the Judge so qualified
shall administer the oath or atfirma-
ton to the inspectors or clerks. and
may administer the oath to any elector
offering 10 vote as to his qualiti cations
to vote at such election.
If any judge, inspector, clerk or
other ofllcer OF primary election as
aforesaid shall presume to act in such
capacity before the taking and sub
scribing to the oath or affirmation
required by this act, he shall, on CON
viction, be fined not eNceediur two
hundred dollars; aud if anv Judge
Inspector, clerk or other officer, when
in the discharge of his duties as such.
shall wilfuily disregard or violate the
provisions of any rule duly made by
the said--party of--county for
the government of the primary elec.
tons of the party, he shall, on convic-
ton, be fined not exceeding two hun
dred dollars, and if any Judge or
inspector of a primary election as
aforesaid shall knowingly reject the
vote OF any person entitled to vote
under the rules of the said -party.
or shall knowingly receive The vote of
any person or persons not qualified as
aforesaid, shall on conviction be fined
not exceeding two hundred dollars
and if any judge, Inspector, clerk or
other officer of q primary election as
aforesaid shall be guilty of any wilful
fraud in the discharge of his duties by
destroying or defacing ballots, adding
ballots to the poll other than those
lawfully voted by stuffing the ballot
box, by false counting, by making
false returns, or by any act or thing
or thing whatfoever, the person so
offending shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction
shall be fined not exceeding five
hundred dollars or imprisoned not eX-
ceeding one year or both or either, at
the discretion of the court.
All acts or parts of acts of assembly
inconsistent with this act are hereby
repealed, except in counties or cities
where special acts are in force for the
same purpose: Provided, however. in
such cases where the provisions of this
act are accepted the special acts shall
be null and void: Provided further,
That the provisions of this act shall
entail no expense to the county or
cities adopting it.