Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-04-11
Testing the Legality of the Electoral
Boards

| Boards.
| Last week Charles E. Hudson who was
appointed by the City Electoral Board, to
the position of Registrar of the ID ward,
applied to M. S. Cease, Of the U. S. Inter-
nal Revenue service, for the books belong
ing to the office. Mr.. Cease declined to
surrender them. On application of Mr..
Hudson, Judge Smith, of the Hastings
| Court, on Saturday, issued writ OF
! mandamus.
| In Harrisonburg A. K. Fletcher the old
Registrar has declined to surrender his
| books to the new kegistrar ar.
These cases will doubt less be taken up
to the Court of Appeals. The disputed
law is an act ''to provide for the manner
of choosing registrars and judges and
clerks of election for the several counties
and cities of the Common wealth, and to
repeal sections and 81 of chapter 8, and
sections and 8 Of chapter 7 of the Code
of 1878, in force February IA, 1884," and
says:
"That the offices OF all the registrars and
| judges, clerks and commissioners OF cleo
| ton in each county and city of this Com
monwealth shall become and be vacant as
soon as their successors in office, as here
| matter provided for, have been appointed
and qualified; and that the General AS
| sembIy shall during the session of the
| Legislature of 1884 and every four years
! thereafter, proceed to elect three qualified
! voters. who shall be freeholders and resi-
dents of each county and city for which
| they are appointed in this Comm wealth,
| to be known as the County or City Elec-
| toral Board, as the case may be-, who shall
60 into Office On the 1st day of March sue
ceeding their election. or as soon thereaf-
ter as possible, having first taken and sub
scribed the usual oath of Off &c prescribed
for city and county officers, and whose
term of office shall continue for four years
| or until their successors are duly elected
and qualified.
so. The said Board shall elect one of
| their number chairman and another Sec
rotary. Any two shall constitute quo
rum for the transaction of business, and
any vacancy occurring in any of said
Electoral Boards during the recess of the
| Legislature shall be filled By the remaining
members or membar Of the Board, and
| the person so chosen shall remain IN office
until the end of the term of the person In
whose stead he was chosen.
| 80 The General Assembly may elect
| said Electoral Boards for each and ali the
counties and cities by one or more JOINT
resolutions, as the General Assembly may
| see fit
"A. The said Electoral Boards for each
| city and county shall have power, and it
| shall be their duty to proceed to fill the
offices of registrars, judges, and clerks of
election in the manner provided for in this
act.
| ''5. 1t shall be the duty of the Electoral
Board of each city and county at some
time prior to the 1st day of April in each
! year to select and appoint three competent
male citizens, who shall.b qualified voters,
| for each votingplace in their respective
| counties and cities, who, when so selected
aad appointed, shall constitute the judges
of election for all elections to be held in
| their respective districts, precincts, or
wards for the term of one year, dating
from their appointment, and who shall
| have power to appoint two clerks for each
| place of voting at such election, to whom
Shall be administered by the judges. or
either of them. the same oath as that
| taken By the said judges. 1t shall be the
| duty of each of said Electoral Boards,
| biernialy at the same time, to appoint
registrar. for each voting place of their
| respective counties and cities, who shall
be discreet citizen, and resident of the
ndeloleildi ulsCtIct OF Wdlu I'D WHlCu NO Is
appointed. and who shall hold office for
the term of two years from the lst day of
April following their appointment, and
until their successors are duly appoin ted
and qualified" &C., &C., &c.
The remainder of the act relates TO the
duties of the officers mentioned. The
Electoral Boards shall qualify before
their county or city or circuit judge. The
Stanton Electoral Board qualified in due
time and made their appointments accord
ing to law.