Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-25
THE ELECTION LAW.
Matters Which should be Carefully Con-
sidered by Every Voter.

SIR: In anticipation Of the attempt
which will be made TO vote Illegal voters
at the coming election, steps have al
ready been taken for the discovery and
arrest of any and every man who shall
vote or attempt TO vote, or shall vote or
attempt TO vote an illegal voter. We
have large number of negro nfen in the
city working on the improvements,
whose homes and families are in Nir-
ginia and other States. There are a
number of gamblers and dead-beats
from PittSburg, Pa, now in the city,
who will, doubtless, attempt TO vote
here. A list of these should be fur
nished at each polling place, so that If
any of them vote or attempt TO vote,
they can be arrested.
The most important points of the law
governing the voter may be summed up
as follows:
ARTICLE ". of the Constitution pro-
rides that all male citizens of the State
shall be entitled TO vote at all elections
held within the counties in which they
respectively reside; but no person who
is a minor, or OF unSOund mind, or
pauper, or who is under conviction of
treason, felony, or bribery in an cleo
ton, or who has not been Il resident of
the State for one year, and OF the coun-
" in which he offers 10 vote for sixty
days next preceding such offer, shall be
permitted To vote while such disability
continues; but no person in the military,
naval or marine service of the United
States shall be deemed a resident of
this State by reason of being stationed
therein.
CHAP. III, SEC. l, of the Code-The
general elections for State, district,
county and other officers herein named,
shall be held on the Tuesday next after
the first Monday in November, until
otherwise provided by law.
SEC. 1O-In all elections by the people,
the mode OF voting shall be by ballot;
but the voter shall be left free to vote
by either open or sealed or secret ballot,
as he may elect.
SEC. l3-Every person offering 10 vote
an election shall preSent-tO one OF the
commissioners a single ballot, written
or printed, upon white paper, and if
there be any mark, color or device WISH
Bile on same intended 10 distinguish il
from other ballots voted at the election,
ia shall not bee received. The ballot
shall contain the names of the persons
for whom he wishes 10 vote. ana deSig-
nate the Office ne desires each of them
20 ill; but no error or mistake in the
designation of the Office or person shall
vitiate any ballot. or cause it TO be re-
iected from the count, if il is manifest
what is intended by the voter.
SEC. l5-The commissioners of the
election shall preserve order, AT and in
the vicinity of the polls, and arrest, or
cause 10 be arrested, any person, or per-
sons. causing = disturbance of the peace
at or near said polls.
SEC. l1-No person shall vote more
than once. i'm the same election, although
he may not have voted the first time for
as many persons Is he might have law
! fully voted for.
| SEC. 10. III two or more ballots be
/ found folded or rolled together, and the
names thereon be the same, all but one
Iof them shall be destroyed; but If the
names thereon be different, they shall
all De destroyed; but if any ballot be
/ found 90 contain more than the proper
number of names for any office, such bal
/ lot shall not bee counted as 10 such Office.
PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL VOTING.
/ CHATTER Y, SECTION ), OF THE CODE
III any person knowingly vote when
Iu0t legally entitled, or vote more than
Iouce n the same election, or knowingly
vote or attempt 20 vote more than one
ballot for the same Office, or on the same
question. or procure or assist in procur-
ing a bad vote 10 be admitted or received
M an election. knowing the same TO be
/ bad. or q good vote 20 be rejected,
knowing the same 10 be good, or with
intent 20 deceive any voter, furnish him
La ballot. and inform him, or i'm any man
ner give such voter % understand, that
10 contained name written or printed
| thereon different from the name which
was printed thereon, or with like in
tent. alter the ballot of such voter by
marking out the name of any person for
whom such voter desires 10 vote, or with
/ like intent. make any alteration there
/ of. whether such ballot be voted or not.
OF defraud any voter at an election
lbv decelviug him and causing
Ihim 10 vote for different
lperSon for any Office than he intended OF
desired 20 vote for, he shall be punished
as hereinafter provided.
Altering of a ballot after the same ha,
been printed by the TWO political par
ties. by the displacement of names and
the substitution of others. such change
must De made in red ink.
The penalty for violating any of the
provisions above is by fine of not less
than twenty nor more than one hundred
dollars. and, NJ the discretion of the
Court. he may be confined in jail not
/ less than one nor more than sin months.
Section provides the penalty for dis
/ turbing, by force, menace, fraud or in
| timidatiOn, preventing. or attempting
TO prevent any officer in the discharge
/ OF his official duties at such election. or
I I'm any way interfering with such officer
or officers: or shall ObStruct, or attempt
TO ObStruct, the holding of such election.
or any voter from voting, shall be fined
not less than one nor more than i've
hundred dollars for any such OffenSe.
Any corporation which shall in any
way Interfere with any of its employees
i'm voting, shall be fined not less than
/ five thousand dollars nor more than
twenty thousand dollars.
Section provides the punishment for
bribery, by tue and confinement in the
penitcntiary.
sec. 10. No person Shsll on the day
of election, within sixty feet OF the
voting place, request another person to
exhibit or disclose the contents of any
ballot which such other person intend
ed 20 use I'm voting.
SEC. "A. Provides that any person
having inspected the ballot of voter,
or having furnished such voter with a
ballot. and accompanies him within
sixty feet of the voting place, or shall
call voter back after he has started TO
the polls for the purpose of voting, and
shall inspect, or in any way alter or
change such ballot; or shall deliver, or
cauSe TO be delivered to voter, bal