Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-11-24
THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
The Law on the Subject for the Guidance
of Governors a, Electors.


of Governors , d Electors.
cincinnati Commercial Gazette)
This is a good time to call attention to
the fact that an Act was passed by the
Forty-ninth Congress '.to fix day for the
meeting of the Electors of President and
Vice-President, and to provide for and
regulate the counting of the votes for
President and Vice-President and the de-
cisions of questions arising Hereunder"
1t is also a good time to direct the atten-
ton of the executive officers of the several
States who have duties to perform in con-
nection with the ascertainment of the
electoral vote to this important matter, and
to suggest that they should at once famil-
iarize themselves with the requirements of
the Federal statutes touching the meeting
of the Electors and the methods prescribed
for the procedure of the Electors.
The Act of February 8, 1887, provides
that the Electors of each State "shall meet
and give their votes on the second Monday
in January next following their appoint
ment, at such place in each State as the
Legislature of such State shall direct
Under the old law the first Wednesday
in December was the day for meeting.
The third section of the Act makes it
the duty of the Governor OF the State, as
soon as practicable after the result of the
election has been officially ascertained, to
communicate, under the seal of the State,
to the Secretary of State of the United
States, certificate Of the ascertainment of
the Electors chosen, Setting forth the
names of such Electors, and the canvass or
other ascertainment under the laws of
such State, of the number of votes given or
cast for each person for whose appoint
ment any and all votes have been given or
cast" 1t is also made the duty of Govern
ors of States to deliver to the Electors on
or before the second Monday in January,
like certificate in triplicate, under the
seal of the State.
The Electors are required to name in
their ballots the person voted for as Presi-
dent and in distinct ballots the person
voted for as Vice President, and they shall
make distinct lists of all persons voted for
as President, and of all persons voted for
as Vice-President, and of the number of
votes for each, which lists they shall sign
and certify aud transmit sealed to the seat
of Government of the United States, direct
ed to the President of the Senate"
l. HdL Is tue HTSI Cldtise Vi Article AL. OF
the Constitution of the United States.
Having made the certificates, the law di-
reefs that the Electors ''shall seal them up
and certify upon each that the lists of all
the votes of such State given for President
and all the votes given for Vice-President
are contained therein"
Next comes the duty Of transmitting the
three certificates, which must be done in
the following manner:
l. They the Electors) shall, by writing, under
their hands, or the hands of a majority of them,
appoint person to take charge of and deliver
to the President of the Senate, at the seat of
Government. forthwith, the second Monday in
January, on which The Electors shall give their
votes, one of the certificates.
.. They shall forthwith forward by the Post
Office to the President of the Senate, at the seat
of Government, one other of the certificates.
3. They shall forthwith cause the other OF the
certificates to be delivered 10 the Judge of that
district in which the Electors shall assemble.
Too much care cannot be observed by
the Governors of States and Electors in
complying with these regulations. Every
technically and every formality should be
scrupulously observed, otherwise contro-
versy is likely to arise over the informality
when the two Houses of Congress meet in
joint convention on the second Wednesday
of February next