The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-06
Law to Challenges.
The law relating to challenges, with which
the duties of inspectors are largely connected,
Ia a foilowa.


The law relating to challenges, with which
the duties Of inspectors are largely connected,
Is as follows:
Sec. 47o2, R. s. Challenges. oaths-Any person
offering to vote may be challenged unqualified by
any qualified voter OF such township precinct and
in all cases the inspector or any Judge shall challenge
any person offering 70 vote whom he shall know or
enged insist upon voting and II the challenge be not
withdrawn, the inspector of such election, of
the Judges thereof, shall administer to him, if he
claim to DO citizen Of the United States the follow
ing goa oath h .w..- , ~. NAV ;. a..
you q citizen of the United States; that you are
twentyone years Of age to the best Of your in.
forms alton and belief that you have been a bona de
resident of this State for six months Immediately pre-
ceding this election, that YOU lave resided in the
township sixty days and in the ward Tor precinct
the may be-. thirty days, and now a bona fde
resident OF this precincts that you are generally
known by the name in which you now desire to vote
and that you have voted and will not vote in
other precinct at this election.
If the voter challenged does not claim to be a
citizen Of the United States the inspector or
one of the judges of elections should administer
to him the following oath:
You do swear Tor affirm, the case may be- that
you have resided in the United States year and
have declared your intention to become q citizen
thereof in conformity with the laws thereof that you
twenty-one years OF to the best of your
information and belief that you have been bona fde
resident of this State for six months Immediately pre-
ceding this election; that you have resided in the
township sixty days and the ward Tor precinct the
case may be thirty DAYS and are now oona fde res
by the name in which you now desire to vote and
that you have not voted and that you will not vote in
any other precinct at this election.
But in every case of a challenged vote before
it is received, unless the challenge is withdrawn,
some qualified voter Of the precinct in which
the voter is offered who has been q freebooter
and q resident householder therein for o: least
one year preceding the election, must make the
following oath or Affirmation:
You do swear Tor affirm. as the case may be. that
you = qualified voter IN this precinct; that ycu
have been a freebooter aud resident householder in
this precinct for year next preceding this election,
that -, who now desires TO VOTE has resided in this
State for six months INN ediatey preceding this eiec
ton, and that he has resided in this township sixty
days, and in the ward Tor precinct as the may
be- thirty days and 10 now bona fine resident Of this
precinct.
AL these oaths must be written or printed,
and signed oy the persons making such oaths,
In the presence OF such board of elections; the
oaths shall DO administered by some member OF
the ehectiou board, who shall afix his jurat
thereto; aud adavits N ust be attached to and re-
turned with the poll-lists, to the Office Of the
county clerk.
The section relating to challenges. 4703. is as
follows:
If the person challenged take such OATH and shall
have been supported by freeb older of his precinct
as hereinbefore provided, he, shall be admitted TO
vote; and il shall not be lawful thereafter for said
cations; but if he refuse take such OATH they may
swear and examine other witnesses.
10 carrying out these laws the inspectors have
no discretion. In every instance they are per
emptory and must be obeyed
Duties Of Supervisors and Deputy Marshals.
The United States supervisors may be either
inside or outside OF the polling places. but they
must be in position where they can most ad-
vantaeeously sec the tallot-bOx. They must
challenge every vote that they have good reason
to believe is illegal; il they have any idea that
q ballot Is double it il their duty to carefully
examine the ballot, not to read the same, but to
zee whether or not IL is double ballot. This is
one Of the duties imposed upon them by the
federal law. and if there is any attempt, by any
one to interfere with this privilege they shall
order the arrest of the offender at once, and
they can call upon citizens to take the man into
custody and convey him to the Jail to be dealt
with by the federal authorities.
They must be present at the opening OF the
polls, and examine the ballot-box, and satisfy
themselves that II is empty. They shall remain
with the counting board until the ballots are
counted and the bags are sealed. They shall
make noe or any violation OF the law py any
outsider member OF the board. They can
cali upon the deputy marshals. or in their alb
sepce or upon their failure to comply with their
orders, upon any citizen to arrest any man,
without warrant. for an ofTenss committed 10
their presence.
The deputy marshals have no right to arrest
anyone upon information brought to them.
They can arrsst without warrant only for
offenses relating 10 the election aud
where the offsnse has been committed
in their presence and in their sight: il
they are told that an ofenss has been
committed by some one away from the polls or
out Of their sight 10 Is their duty to report ths
same TO some United States commissioner or
judge Of the court An arrest can only be made
IN such cases by q warrant properly issued.
The man who persuAdes anoshor TO cast an
illegal vote is In the eye OF the law as guilty as
he who casts il; and he who prevents a legal
voter by any means, whether by intimidation or
threats, 10 guilty of an o'snss against the United
States, and liable 70 imprisonment Ia the pen!-
tntiary.