Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-10-17
THE ELECTION Law.
Full Text of the Important Act That
Covers the Voting i'm Michigan.

AN ACT 10 prescribe tne manner Ca Con-
Quoting, and TO prevent fraud and decep-
ton at general elections In this state.
Section 1. The people of the state OF
Michigan enact, That at all general cleo
tions the supervisor, the justice OF the peace
not holding the Office of the supervisor or
town clerk, whose term OF Office Will hrst
expire, and the township clerk OF each
township. and the assessor and alderman OF
each ward In n city, or II in any city there
be not an assessor in every ward, then the
two IA .dcrmen of each ward, shall he the
inspectors of election, two OF whom shall
constitute IA quorum: Provided, That In the
voting precincts OF all cities when by special
enactment lprovisions provision already
exist for designating inspectors of election
such provision is not To be superseded but
such officers shall be the election inspectors
under this act
Sec. .. In case such inspectors shall not
attend at the opening OF the polls, or shall
not remain in attendance during the elec-
tion, the electors present may choose, viva
voce, such number OF such electors as with
the inspector or inspectors present, shall
constitute IA board of three i'm number; ana
such electors so chosen shall be inspectors
of that election, during the continuance
! thereof.
Sec. 3. The township clerk. II present,
shall be required by the board to act as
clerk of the election, and before the opening
| OF the polls, the inspectors In each township
shall appoint another competent person To
| be clerk of the election; and IL the town
ship clerk shall not be present the board
| shall appoint two such clerks, and the IN
spectors in each ward or voting precinct In
city shall appoint two competent persons
| 70 be pQch clerks; and each of the clerks so
| appoiNts1, and each of the inspectors so
chosen, shall take the constitutional oath
OF office, which oath either OF the inspectors
may administer.
ha oft la al
| opened at o'clock in the forenoon, or as
soon thereafter as may be, on Che day OF
election, and shall be continued open until
! 8 o'clock i'm the afternoon of the same day,
and no longer, but the board may adjourn
| the polls at twelve o'clock noon, for one
hour in their discretion, but the inspectors
OF election shall cause proclamation TO be
made lpon opening the polls, and shall also
| cause proclamation to be made OF the clos
! ing of the polls ono hour, thirty minutes,
and fifteen minutes before the closing OF
the polls
Sec 5. There shall be provided and kept
| by the township clerk at the expense or such
township, and in each ward and voting pre-
cinct of any city by the assessor thereof,
at the expense of the city. one or more suit
! able ballot boxes, with lock and key, which
ballot box shall have an opening through
the lid of the proper size TO admit single
! closed ballot, through which each ballot re-
1
! furnish township or ward election seal,
| which shall contain the name of the town
ship or ward and the words election seal
around the margin thereof, and such other
words or device as the township board OF
| the township or the common council OF the
city may desire.
Sec. 6. Before opening the poll, the ballot
box shall be examined that nothing may re
main I'm il; and il shall then be lockedand the
| key thereof delivered to one of the inspect
ors. to be designated by the board; and the
said box shall not be opened during the
election, except as provided b" existing law
in case of adiournments.
Sec. Z. When the supervisors shall be one
OF the board, he shall be chairman thereof;
| but IL he be absent, such one of their num-
, Der rs the inspectors shall appoint, shall be
! chairman.
Sec. s. Al every general or special election
| held I'm the state after the passage of this
act, each elector shall vote by ballot, and
| shall, in full view, deliver TO the chairman
of the inspectors of election a single ballot
| or ticket, on which shall be written or
| printed, or partly written and printed, the
names of the persons voted for, with proper
! designation OF the Office which he or they
may be intended to fill. No ballot or
ticket shall bear upon the outside thereof,
| any impression. device, color, or thing
| designed or liable 10 distinguish such ballot
| or ticket from other legal ballots or tickets,
whereby the same may be known or dcsig-
mated. No ticket shall be used at any such
election or circulated on the day OF such
| election. unless furnished by the secretary
OF state for such purpose; and IL is hereby
made the duty of the secretary of state to
| procure and furnish on application and
! payment To him of the actual cost with ten
! per cent added thereto by the state Central
committee of any political party or organi-
| ZatIon In this state. such quantity or
I ~ hal tn ne "a n
preaching elections, as may be deemed
necessary or convenient. All ballots to be
! OF the same width and length.
Sec o. 1t shall hereafter be the duty of
the State Central committee, county COM
mittee. or other managing committee
OF any political party or organi-
cation In this state before each
election In the state 10 prepare and adopt
| by engraving or otherwise, "A ticket vignette
or heading, with an appropriate inscription.
TO be printed at the top of the ticket OF the
| party. on the inside thereof rs a distinctive
and characteristic heading thereto. Such
vignette or heading shall not be more than
two inches high by four and one-half inches
! wide. and i'm addition to the device adopted.
shall sset forth legibly. the fact that the
ticket Is the regular ticket OF the party with
the name thereof. It shall also show the
| congressional, senatorial and represC nta
tive districts, and county where such ticket
may be lawfully voted.
Sec. TO- When such vlgnettc and inscrip-
tion shall have been adopted and prepared,
an impression of the same, followed by the
regular ticket of such party, printed so as
to constitute lawful election ballot, and
sealed up I'm an envelope, shall be filed with
the county clerk OF the county whore such
election is to be held, at least ten days be-
fore the opening Of the poll at such election,
Such ballot shall be kept by such clerk on
deposit, and from the time OF said filing II
shall he unlawful for any person to initiate
| copy. or In any manner counterfeit the
same. Any person violating the foregoing
provision shall, upon conviction thereof, be
punished by fine not exceeding one thou
sand dollars or by Imprisonment In thu
state prison for the term not exceeding one
year, or both. In the discretion Of the court
Sec. II. Any person who shall knowingly
print. circulate. distribute or cause TO be
distributed any ticket or tickets, ballot oI
ballots having thereon the vgnette or any
imitation Of the vignette, or inscription OF
any ballot or ticket so filed with the county
clerk, but containing the name or names OF
any candidate or candidates other or differ.
ent from the name or names upon the bal
lot or ticket OF such party so filed or depos-
tied with said clerk. or who shall intention
ally destroy or carry away any ballot oi
ballots except for his own use In voting
which shall LA vp bppu furnished nv tho I'm