Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-19

committee, and furnished with list OF eiec-
tors marked with hieroglyphics 10 designate
for against" doubtful dead
etc., etc. The presiding officer, poll-clerk,
constable aud agents are the only persons
allowed within the booth. There sre no
provisions preventing persons congregaung
about the polling-booth'."
The names on the ballot are In alphabet
cal order. Each candidates occupation is
stated. There Is n perforated line near the
bottom OF the ticket. Below 1t IS blank
space. 1t Is used to prevent putting In
blank into the bsllot-box aud bringing out
the official ticket. The presiding officer puts
his initials on the back OF the ballot 20 as 10
be visible when the paper IL folded up. The
poll clerk numbers the voter on his poll
book, and the presiding officer puts the same
number on the ticket. No envelopes are al
lowed, as these occasion frauds.
When the voting begins only one voter is
admitted at a time. The presiding officer
asks his name II II Is on tho list the clerk
enters II on bis book, with the occupation
and a number. and the presiding officer
hands him ticket. We quote again;
"The voter retires with his ballot into a
screened,on apartment. where be mas
table. q couple OF lead. pencils. and, pasted
on the wall. the official directions how 10
mark his ballot. lie puts cross to Inc fight
Of the name or names DE wishes 10 Vote l9I'
taking care not IN cross the lines or TO marx
more names than there are seats TO be ulIe9.
Then he folds Up the paper and brings II
back 10 the presiding officer, who looks AZ
- a. Ill fF
see that 10 Is the same paper that the voter
received, and then tears of the blank piece
and puts the ballot into the box. Then the
voter must leave the booth.
"Of course, things do not always 20 as
smoothly as this. Your voter may be uns>
BILE 10 read. n 40. he declares his Inability
and bis desire TO have his ballot marked Tor
him. The officer swears him 10 the truth OF
bis statement ana Tctires with him, accom-
panied by the sworn agents. to the private
compartment, where he marks the ballot TOT
the names told him by the voter or Il man
may come forward claiming 10 be some one
who you have been instructed IL dead or
away. ThsreUpon, you, being Al agent, act
according 10 circumstances. In TIE last re-
sort you can ask the officer 10 put The oath
to him. You can also challenge and swear
on suspicion OF bribery. II IL not common
iation il inevitable aud unpleasant. The
pOll.clerk makes minute in bis pollsbooK
opposite the voters name OF whether he
voted, aud Of any objection, and whether he
took the oath or refused it.
"At5 o'clock the poll Is closed, the box
opened. and the votes counted IN the pre-
sence OF the agents. II any paper appears
marked so that it IL not clear for whom 1t IL
intended. or for more names than there are
seats 20 IN, or with distinguishing mark
any agent can take an objection. Thereupons
number is put on the ballot and record Of
the objection made in the pollbook, aud the
presiding officer has 70 decide whether
TO count it or reject 1t, record
OF which decision is also made
Then the presiding officer puts The
ballots for each candidate-those spoiled,
those rejected, and those unused intosepa-
rate envelopes and puts them back into the
box. He makes out a statement, for which
official blanks are provided him, showing lbe
votes cast Tor each candidate and the number
rejected; gives one to each candidate, keeps
one himself, and pastes one IN the back Of
his poll book. rhen ho and his clerk swear
before some justice Of the peace, who has
been notified TO he on hand, that they have
dul, discharged their duties; and certiii-
cate OF this oath also goes in the back OF the
pol-bOOk, &c, &C., &c.
As the Government pays for the tickets,
there must be some way In which TO keep
down the number OF candidates:
"Twenty-Gye electors can nominate a can
didate by nomination IN writing provided 4
deposit Of 5000 accompanies II. THIS sum IS
forfeited in case the candidate fails to poll
half the vote OF the successful candidate. II
ONLY as many nominations are made a' there
are seats TO be filed, the returning officer re-
turns them as elected by reclamation. II
more. be issues a proclamation that poll
will be held, and containing the names OF
the candidates in alphabetical order. with
their occupations and residence. The day
Of polling Is fixed by the act for the seventh
day from nominations"
The proceedings on election-day are de-
tailed herolnbefore. 1t takes good deal OF
space to describe those proceedings, but in
practice not much time is consumed.
A room Is screened so as to render It sbso-
lutely private, and only one voter is allowed
in it at time. Ii is Z proper distance from
the vOting.place.