The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-31
REGISTRATION BOARDS.
BILL TO vACATE ALL OFFICES OF
REGISTRARS AND JUDGES
OF ELECTION.
The Most Important Measure Yet
Brought 20 the Attention Of
the General Assembly.

ING MOSt mROEt8mt we&Surc Hes
| Brought 70 the Attention Of
the General Assembly.
Mr.. Atkinson yesterday called up his bill
in reference to the appointment OF regis
trars In order to allow Mr.. Mccormick to
offer the substitute following; which SUBJ
stltute Mr.. Atkinson will accept, and the
probability Is that it will pass the Senate.
1t was yesterday ordered to be printed. 1t
is yet in the amendable stage:
A BILL 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 8 AND
"A OF CHAPTER 8 AND SECTIONS 2 AND 3 OF
CHAPTER OF THE CODE OF 1873.
/. BE IL enacted by the General Assembly
of Virginia, That the offices of all the regis
trars and judges and commissioners OF
election in each county and city Of this
Commonwealth be, and they are hereby,
declared vacant, and that the General As
sembly shall, during the session Of Legis-
Iature of 1884, and every four years
| thereafter, proceed TO elect three qualified
voters, who shall be free-bolders and resi-
4
they are appointed In this Commonwealth.
to be known as the county or city Electoral
Board. as the case may be, who shall 20
into Office on the 1st day OF March succeed
ing their election, having first taken and
subscribed the usual oath Of Office pre-
scribed for city and county officers, and
whose term OF Office shall continue for four
years, or until their successors are duly
elected and qualified.
| 2. The said board shall elect one Of their
members chairman and another secretary,
and two shall constitute q quorum for the
transaction OF business, and any vacancy
occurring in any of said Electoral Boards
during the recess OF the Legislature shall
| be filed by the remaining members or
member Of the board, and the person 30
chosen shall remain in office until the end
OF the term OF the person in whose stead
he was chosen.
| 3. The General Assembly may elect said
Electoral Boards for each and all the coun-
ties and cities, by one or more joint resolu-
| tiOns, as the General Assembly may see tit.
4. 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.
). II shall be the duty Of the Electoral
Board OF each city and county, at some
time prior to the lst day OF April in each
year, to select and appoint three compc-
tent male citizens, who shall be qualified
voters, for each yoting-place in their Ie-
spectiye counties and cities, who, when 80
selected and 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. II shall
be the duty OF each OF said Electoral
Boards biennially. at the same time, to APP
point registrar for each voting-place OF
| their respective counties and cities. who
shall he discreet citizen and resident OF
the magisterIal district or ward 10
which he is appointed provided, how
ever, that for any ward containing
over one thousand voters the said Electoral
Board shall appoint one registrar for every
thousand voters, and one for every frac-
| tional part OF thousand above five hum
dred, and there shall be at least as many
voting-places in each ward ~ registrars for
such ward. The said Electoral Board shall
from time TO time dill any vacancy that may
occur in the office Of registrar.
| Whenever it is practicable to do SO, the
persons so selected and appointed as
| Judges OF election shall be chosen for each
voting from persons known TO belong
| to different political parties, and each one
OF whom shall be able TO read and write.
!! But no election shall be deemed to be in
I t,rbo Off oH ~
Judges shall not belong TO different political
parties. And should any judge OF election
fail to attend at any place Of voting
for one hour after the time prescribed
by law for opening the polls at such elee-
ton, it shall be lawful for the Judge or
! Judges in attendance to select from among
the bystapders one or more persons pos
sessing the qualifications OF judges OF elec-
ton. who shall act rs Judge or Judges OF
such election. and who shall have all the
powers and authority Of judges appointed
| by said Electoral Board: provided, how
| ever, that il the judge or judges present
have information that the absent Judge or
judges will not attend, lie or they need not
wait for the expiration of an hour, or any
other time. Should all the judges appoint
| ed for any place OF voting fail to attend ut
J
time prescribed by law for opening the
polls ut such election, II shah be the duty
| OF any Justice of the peace OF the town.
ship in which the election Is held who shall
be applied 10 for that purpose, or the mayor,
| il the election il in any election district
| in a town or city. TO appoint three Judges
Of election for such election district. who
shall possess the same qualifications and
BY said Electoral Board. Should no judges
| OF election be appointed for any county,
| city, or place Of voting therein, on il ap-
pointed they neglect or refuse TO act Tor
one hour after the time prescribed by law
for opening the polls at such election, it
shall be lawful for any three competent
ireeholders OF the district who may be
present and willing to act, upon taking
the oath pre- scribed for judges OF elections.
TO proceed to hold. conduct, and certify
the election in the manner provided IN this
act, and for that purpose shall have all the
powers and authority OF judges appointed
by said Electoral Board.
6. The Electoral Board Of each county
and city shall also, at the same time, deslg-
nate five OF the persons so appointed a.
Judges to act as commissioners, three Of
which said commissioners shall constitute
board (of which the clerk OF the county
or corporation court, as the ease may be,
shall er Otici0 be clerk), whose duty it
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 eycepted),
and to proceed TO open the several returns
which shall have been made at that office
and the said commissioners shall deter
mine the persons who have received the
greatest numbers Of votes in the county or
corporation for the several offices voted
for in said election. Such determination
shall be reduced to writing and sign