The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-16
THE ELECTORAL VOTE.

The Duties of Those Who Have to Do with
Its Collecting and Counting.
Washington Special.
This is good time to call attention to the
fact that an act was passed by the Forty ninth
Congress ito fix . day for the meeting of the
electors Of President aud Vice-presdent, and to
provide for and regulate the counting of the
votes for President and Vice president, and the
decisions of questions arising hereunder" 1t
is also good time 10 direct the attention of the
executive officers OF the several States who have
duties to perform in connection with the ascer.
tainment Of the electoral vote to this important
matter, end to sugges; tha: they should at once
familiarize themselves with the requirements of
ths federal statutes touching the meeting Of the
electors and the methods prescribed for the pro-
cedure of the electors.
The act of Feb. 3, 1887, provides that the
electors OF each State ''shsl meet aud give their
votes on the second Monday In January next
following their appointment, at such place in
each State as the Legislature Of such State shall
direct Under the old law the first Wednesday
iu December was the day for meeting.
The third section Of the act makes it the duty
of the Governor OF each State, as soon as prac-
ticable after the result OF the election has been
officially ascertained, to communicate. under
the seal Of the State. to the Secretary Of State
tainment of the electors chosen, ''settine forth
the names of such electors, and the canvass or
other ascertainment under the laws of such
State, OF the number Of votes given cast for
each person for whose appointment any and all
votes have been given or cast" 1t is also made
the duty Of Governors OF States to deliver TO the
electors, or before the second Monday in jan
uary, like certificate in triplicate, under the
seal of the State.
The electors are required TO name in their
qnd
in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice.
president, and they shall make distinct lists OF
all persons voted for as President, ana OF all
persons voted for as Vice president. and of the
number of votes for each, which lists they shall
sign and certify and transmit sealed to the seat
OF government of the United States. directed to
the President OF the Senate
That IL the first clause of Article IL OF the
Constitution Of the United States. Having
made the certificates, the law directs 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 of 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:
''First-They tthe elsctors) 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 os government forthwith. after the second
Monday in January, on which the electors shall
give their votes. one of the certificates.
''Second-They shall forthwith forward by
the postofice to the President OF the Senate a,
the seat of government, one other of the certif-
Gates.
"Third-They shall forthwith cause the other
Of the certificates to be delivered TO the Judge OF
that district in which the electors shall assem-.
bles
Too much care canuot be observed by the
Governors OF States and electors in complying
with these regulations. Every technicality and
every formality should be escrupulousiy observed,
otherwise n controversy Is likely 10 arise over
the infornality when the two houses OF Congress
meet in joint convention on the second Wednes
day OF February next.