Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-11-01
The Election Laws.

INV III ioINC tiiS
Sec. 1907. All male citizens of the
United States above the age OF twenty
one years, and all male persons OF the
same ago who shall have declared their
intention Of becoming citizens, and
who. under existing laws of the United
States, may ultimately become citi-
zens thereof, shall be deemed elect ors
OF this territ ory, and be entitled to
vote for delegate to congress and for
territorial, district, county, precinct
and municipal officers, provided they
shall have resided in the territory six
months, and in the county where they
may offer to vote thirty days next
preceding the day Of election.
Sec. zoos. No person under guar
dianship, non compos mentis, or in
sane, or any person convicted of trsa-
son, felony. or bribery. in this terri
tory, or any other territory or state
in the Union, unless rest Ored to civil
rights, shall he permitted to vote at
any election.
Sec. 1917. At all elections to be
held under this article the polls shall
he opened at eight O'Clock in the fore
noon and continue open until six
O'Clock in the afternoon OF the same
day, at which time the polls shall he
closed, and at the opening oi the polls
one OF the clerks, under the direction
Of the judges, shall make proclama-
tiOn of the same. and thirty minutes
before the closing OF the polls prOcla-
nation shall he made in like manner,
and the polls shall be closed in half
hour; but the board may, in their dis
cretion, adjourn the polls at twelve
O'Clock at noon for one hour, prOcla-
nation Of the same being made.
Sec. 1920. 1t shall belawful for any
elect or to vote for delegate to congress
at any place of holding elections in this
erritory, for members of the legisla-
tive assembly and all other officers at
any place for holding elections within
the particular limits for which such
member of the legislative assembly
and such other officers are to be
elected: Provided, That an elect or,
qualified to vote for part and not all
OF the officers to he chosen at any cleo
tion, shall vote an open ticket, and the
judges may determine the legality OF
such vote.
Sec. 1921. II any person offering to
vote shall be challenged as unqualified
by any judge or clerk OF the election.
or any other person entitled to vote
at the same poll, and either Judge may
challenge any person offering to vote
whom he shall know or suspect not to
he qualified, the judge shall declare 20
the person so challenged the qualifica-
tiOns OF an elect or; if such person shall
then declare himself duly qualified and
the challenge he not Withdrawn, he
then shall take and subscribe the fol
lowing oath: 81 do solsmnly swear tor
affirm that ] am a citizen of the
United States; that am over the age
Of twent y-one years; that ! have re-
sided in the territory of Montana six
months Immediately preceding he day
of election at which now offer to vote.
and that have resided in the county
where now offer to vote thirty days
next preceding the election at which !
now offer o vote, and that ] am known
by the name i'm which ! now offer to
vote, and that have not voted at
any ther poll this election" And in
cases of persons of foreign birth who
have not been admitted to full citizen
ship under existing laws of the United
States, that part of the oath relative
to citizenship shall be dispensed with
and the following substituted: II have
resided in the United States six mont hs
.+s+l lA.+ts
come "a citizen oi the United States. in
conformity tn he laws thereof" And
thereupon. il any male householder
and freehOlder OF the county where
such person offers To vote shall take
and subscribe the following oath or
atlirmatiO ion, ,tO-wit: al swear tor ailirm)
that am "a householder and freeholder
of the county Of there state county J
and Territory Of Montana, and that !
know there state the name of the per-
son Offering to vote. and that he has
been u resident OF the Territory OF
Montana for six months next preced-
ing this election, and that he has been
a resident of this county for thirty
days next preceding this election" !"
Then, and not till then, shall such per-
son Offering to vote be admitted and
allowed to vote. such Oaths shall be
i'm writing or printed, or both. and
may be taken before either of the
Judges, who shall attach his j,,rat
thereto. Such oaths shall be kept by
the Judges and sent with the ret urns of
the election to the clerk of the board
of county commissioners OF thecounty y
i'm which such election was held. to he
filed and kept by such clerk. Such
Oaths shall be open to the inspection
OF the grand jury of the county, and
any person may obtain n cert flied
copy OF the same from said clerk upon
paying the sum OF fifty cents. and
when any prosecution for any criminal
Offense is based upon said oaths or
either OF them before any magistrate
or probate Judge, upon subpoena
therefor said clerk shall. by himself or
deputy, produce said oaths for use
upon the trial of such prosecution.
Sec. lO27.-As soon as the polls OF
the election shall be finally closed, the
judges shall Immediately proceed to
canvass the vote given at such cleo
tiOn, and the canvass shall be public,
and shall continue till completed.
Sec. 1912. In counting votes the
Judges OF election shall disregard mis-
spelling or abreviation ot the names of
candidates for the offices, ii it can be
ascertained from such votes for whom
they were east.