Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-12-12

|
powers as judges appointed by said cleo
toral board. Should no judges of election
be appointed for any county, city. or place
Of voting therein, or if appointed, they
neglect or refuse to act for one hour after
the time prescribed by law for opening
the polls at suca election, it shall be law
full for any three lawful voters of the dis
trict. who may be present and willing to
act, upon taking the oath prescribed for
Judges of election, to proceed to hold, con-
duct and certify the election in the man.
ner provided in this act, and for that pur-
pose shall have all the powers and author
ity of judges appointed by said electo ra
board.
REGULATIONS OF ELECTIONS.
6. The electoral board of each county,
and city shall also, at the same time. des-
lgnate five of the parsons 80 appointed as
Judges to act as commissioners, who, or
any three of whom, shall constitute
board of which the clerk of the county or
corporation court, as the case may be,
shall ex-offic1o, be clerk. whose duty 1t
shall be to meet at the clerks Office of the
county or corporation for which they are
appointed, on the second day after any
election held therein, Sunday excepted,
and to proceed to open the several returns
which shall have been made at that Office;
! and the said commissioners shall ascertain
| from the returns the persons who have
received the greatest number of votes in
the county Or corporation for the several
offices voted for iE same election. The
result, as ascertained, shall be reduced to
writing, and signed by majority of the
commissioners present and constitut-
| ing such board, and attasted by the clerk,
and shall be annexed to the abstract of
votes given for such office respectively, as
provided for in the 18th section of chapter
8, of the code of 1873. 1 from any cause
the number of commissioners in atten-
dance, at the time and place for opening
returns, be less than three, it shall be law
full for the commissioner Or commission
ers in attendance to select from the voters
of the county or corporation, as the case
may be, one or more persons having the
qualification of judges Of election, who
shall act as commissioner or commission
ers. Should all the commissioners appoint
ed for any county or corporation fail to
attend at the time and place for opening
the returns, it shall be lawful for any
justice OF the peace of the county, or the
mayor, if the failure occurs in any city or
town, to appoint from among the voters
of the county or corporation, as the case
may be, three persons having the quali6-
cations of judges of elections, who shall
act as commissioners. The electoral board
of the several counties and cities shall
have power to fill vacancies in such ap-
pointTnents in their respective cities and
counties whenever necessary to do 3d.
ANY person appointed under this section
to Gil vacancy in the board of commits
sioners shall, before entering upon the dis
charge of his duties as commissioner, take
an oath before some one authorized to
administer oaths, to faithfully discharge
his duties as commissioner, and when SO
sworn shall have all the power and
authority, and be subject to all the penal
ties of a judge of election appointed for
that purpose by the said electoral board.
The fact of the appointment being made
and the oath taken shall be noted by the
clerk at the foot of the abstract of votes
provided for in the said 26th section of
chapter of the code of 1873.
Z. The electoral board of each city and
county shall convene at any time upon
the call of any member Of the board, and
in regular session at such time in the
month of January of each year. as the
board may prescribe; but at any special
meeting the board shall have the same
powers as at a regular meeting. At any
session two members shall constitute a
quorum. The secretaries of the several
electoral boards shall keep in book. to
be provided for that purpose, an accurate
account of all the proceedings of the board,
including all appointments and removals
of judges and registrars.
8. The said electoral board shall have
power, and it shall be their duty to declare
vacant. and proceed to fill the Office of
any registrar in their respective cities and
counties who fail to qualify, and to deliver
to the clerk Of the board his official oath
in the usual form within thirty days after
be has been notified Of his appointment,
which notification shall be promptly given
by the clerk. The board shall have also
power to remove from office, every
judge or registrar, upon notice, who fails
to discharge the duties of his office accord
ing to law.
DELIVERY OF BALLOT BOXES AND BOOKS
YTHE PRESENT OFFICERS OF
ELECTION.
8. The present registrars, judges of
election, clerks of election, aud commits
sioners of election, and each and every
one of them shall, on request, deliver to
their respective successors in Office, as
provided for III this act, all the ballot
boxes, books, papers and other property
liz their possession belonging to their re-
spective Offices. Any registrar, judge,
clerk, or commissioner of election who
shall fail or refuse to deliver such ballot
boxes, books, papers, or other property,
after request therefor has been made either
by the electoral board or by his or their
successor or successors in office, shall be
guilty of misdemeanor, and upon con-
viction thereof shall be punished by fine
, of not less than twenty ncr more than fifty
dollars, and confinement in the county
Jail for not less than one nor more than
twelve months. And it shall be lawful
for the electoral board or, upon TIER