Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-11-04
THE ELECTION LAW,
SOME POINTS FOR THE PEOPLE TO PONDER
OVER.
Important Changes Made by the Last Legislature
Heavy Penalties for Bribery and Intimida-
GENERALIZATION Of Voters.

The lsst Legislature made some import
ant changes in the election laws, particu-
larly in regard to ferns of b,lltt', the
erection OF a 60-foct limit, for the bstter
protection of the voter in the free exercise
of his choice, repeating, or causing the ad-
mission of bal votes or thu rjsction of
good cnes. There. have been many en-
quiii:s for the publication Of the gist Of
these new provisions and certain provis-
ions of the old statutes, ard the essential
parts are given below.
The IntelHgencer, yesterday, made
deliberate attempt to confuse and mis!ead
the voters, by publishing garhl.d and
grossly perverted statement tf SEC. 5. o.
Chap 5, of the Code, attempting to make
it appear that no name could be written
upon ballot, bat that all changes must be
printed, ard printed in red ink. A ballot
may be changed with psn or pencil, at the
discretion of the voter. TIE plain intent
and meaning of the law is 10 prevent the
printing of crooked tckets, or the use of
stickerJ, printed in type SO rear llse the
body OF the ticket as 10 rot be plainly dis
cernib'e. In other words, printed alter
atoms in ballot must b, in rel ink, but
alterations may he written as usual
OPENING AND CLOSING OF POLLS.
Section Z of chapter of the Code pro-
vides "that at every electio the polls shall
be opened as soon az practicable after sun
ris, (but not before sunris:) end shall be
closed at sunset"
QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS.
Section of the same chapter says:
mo person \ who has 70: been
a resident Of the State for ore year, and of
the county in which he cff.rs to vote for
sixty days, next preceding such election,
and who is not, at the time of the election,
an actual and bora fide resident of the dis
trict in which he offer to vote, shall be psr-
mitted to vote 10 such district. No
person in the employ Of any in
corp grated company, or of this State, be
deemed resident of any county, or of any
district therein, by reason Of being en-
ployed in such unity OF district"
INTIMIDATION, ETC.
"Any corp ,ration which shall, by its
cffic ara, agents, or otherwise, prevent CT
attempt to prevent any voter in its en-
ploy from attending any election, or from
freely exercising bis tight of suffrage at
my election at which he is entitled to
vo!e, by any threat, direct or indirect, ex-
press or implied, to discharge, or deprive
such voter from his employment, or shall
discharge or deprive such voter from its
because of any vote he may
asst or refuse to cast, at any election at
which he is entitled to vote, shall be guilty
If misd e meanor, and shall, upon convic-
ion. be fined not less than five thousand
dollars, nor mere than twenty thousand
lolIars, for every such offsnse, at the dis
retion of the jury .,
In Sect on 8, of Chapter of the Code 1t
8 set forth that "aDy corporation which
hsll, by its officers, agents, or otherwise,
'ffer, give or use, Or caused to be eli red,
,iyen or used, or place, or cause 70 be
,!aced, in the possession, under the con-
rol, or at the dipral Of snather. 10 be
if red, given or used, directly or indirect
Y, any money or o,ber thing of value, 70:
he purpose Ct indGe2cipg any voter or
-oters to vote for particular candidate, or
4 any particular manner, or uro1 any par
ocular side Of any question to be decided
L any such election, or to irtluence the
asult of any such 81 actin, shall be deemed
utility cf q misdemearor, and shall, upon
pnvic.ion be fined not less than hive
housand DO lars nor more than twenty
houseni dolla S, at the discretion OF the
uy."
DRUNKENNESS.
Section 10 provides that eff any cardi-
late offer t., rive or distribute amorg the
,oters any inlox cating liqros on the day
f election he shall, if elected, forfeit hls
ffics." In Section II it ls laid down tha'
if any peIson be drunk at or near tae place
# holding al election he shall be fined not
ess than ten ro7 more than fifty dollars,
md be required to give security for his be-
lavior fer six months"
THE SIXTY FOOT LINE.
SECTION 14.-"Any pc -son who, on the
Law of election, having inspecte1 the ballot
If a voter, or having furnished voter
With a ballot, accompanies such voter
within sixty feet Of the 70 ingp'ece whilst
,uch voter is on his way to the polls for
he purpose of voting, shall be guilty Of
nisdeme amor; or any perto1 &C ing In
,opi urclioa with another person who has,
IN the day of election, insp:c ed the bal
ot Of voter, or furnished vstsr with
ballot, who accompanies such voter with n
sixty feet of the voting plaza whilst such
otter is on his way to the p lis for tn
purpose of voting, or any person who shall
rall voter back after such voter has ap
within sixty feet Of any voting
I ice for the purpose Of casting vote, ana
shall inspect or change the ballot OF such
Y. ter, or shall give or offer to such To'er
another or different billo', shall be gu lty
of misdsmearor."
Sec. Is. mo ticket or ballot shall, on
the day of election, be given o. delivered
10 or received by, any person within SKY
feet of the voting place-exceps Re bs one
IF the commissioners of election, who shall
receive the same OILY at the ballot box,
and in his official capacity
The penalty for violation OF either OF
these sections is fine of not less than SIS
nor more than $500, and imprisonment, at
the discretion of the Court, lot less than
ten nor more than ninety days"
BETTING.
Sec. 9. chapter 5, eff any f9rson bat or
wager money or other article of value on
apy election in this State, he shall forfeit
the value of such money or other thing,
ard fifty dollars in addition thereto for
every such off,n-e"
FORM OF BALLOTS.
Section of Oh epter says that q If any
rerson with intent to deceive
apy vot:r, furnish him ballot and inform
him. or in any manner give s1ch voter to
unde and, that it contained q name