The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-02-12
NEW ELECTION LAW.
AS ENACTED ny THE LAST GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.

SECTION 4. Inc people OF the state OF Michi-
gan enact that at all general elections the
supervisor, the justice OF the peace. not hold
ing the office of the supervisor town clerk
whose term OF office viii first expire. and tho
township clerk OF each township, and the as
SCISSOR and alderman Of each ward in city, or
II in any city there be not assessor in every
ward, then the two aldermen OF each ward,
shall he the inspectors OF election. two OF whom
shall constitute n Quorum provided. that in
the voting precincts OF all titles whore by special
enactment provisions already exist for desg
mating inspectors of election such provision is
not 10 be super sdod but such officers shall be
the election inspectors under this act
SEC. q In case such inspectors shall not at
tend at the opening of the polls. or shall not re-
main in attendance during the election, the
electors present may choose, viva voce. such
number of such electors "a, with the inspector
or inspectors present shall constitute a board
of three in number; and such electors so chosen
shall be inspectors OF that election during the
SEC 8 The township clerk IL present, shall
he required by the board TO 1t n clerk OF the
inspectors I'm each township shall appoint an
other competent person TO be clerk Of the cleo
ton; and IL the township clerk shall not be
present the board shall appoint two such
clerks, and the voters in each ward or voting
precinct In city shall appoint two competent
persons 10 be sdch clerks; and each OF the
clerks so appointed and each of the inspectors
80 chosen shall take the constitutional oath OF
Office, which oath either OF the inspectors may
administer.
SEC A. The polls Of the election nhall be Open
ed at seven o'clock in the forenoon, as soon
thereafter may be. on the day of election, and
shall be continued open until five o'clock in the
afternoon OF the same day, and no longer; but
the board may n liourn the rolls at twelve
O'Clock. noon, Tor one hour, in their discretion |;
but the inspectors of election shall cause proc
lamation 10 be made upon opening the polls,
and shall also cause proclamation TO he made OF
the closing of the polls, one hour. thirty min
utes, and fifteen minutes before the closing Of
the polls.
SEC. s. There shall be provided and kept by
the township clerk in each township at the ex-
pense OF such township, and in each ward or
voting precinct OF any city by the assessor
thereof, at the expense OF the city, one or more
suitable ballot boxes, with lock and key. which
ballot box shall have opening through the lid
of the proper size TO admit single closed ballot
through which each ballot received shall be in
serted and shall also furnish a township or
ward election seal, which shall contain the name
OF the township or ward and the words election
seal" around the margin thereof. aud such other
words or device thereon as the township board
OF the township or common council OF the city
may desire.
SIC. 6. Before opening the poll the ballot
box shall be examined, that nothing may remain
in ii and ii shall then be locked, and the KEY
thereof delivered to one Of the inspectors, 10 be
designated by the board and the said box shall
NOT be opened during the election, except as pre-
vided by existing law in case OF adioummCnts
SEC. Z. When the supervisor shall be one of
thu beard, he shall be chairman thereof; but If
he he absent such enc of their number as the
inspectors shall appoint shall DO chairman.
SEC. s. At every general or special election
held in this State, after the passage of this act
each elector snail vote by ballot. and shall in
full view, deliver TO the Chairman of the in
spectors OF election IA single ballot or ticket on
which shall be written or printed. or partly
written and partly 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 design or liable 10 distinguish such bal
lot or ticket from other legal ballots or tickets
whereby the same may be known or designated
No ticket shall be used NJ any such election UNI
less furnished by the Secretary of State for such
purpose and IL is hereby made the duty of the
Secretary OF State 10 procure and furnish on ap-
plicatiOn aud payment 10 him OF the actual cost.
with ten per cent. added thereto by the state
central committee, county, or other managing
committee of any political partyor organization
In this Stat, such quantity or amount OF bal
lots TO be used at such approaching elections
as may be deemed necessary or convent mt All
ballots TO be OF the same width and length.
SEC 2. 1t shall hereafter be the duty lof the
State central committee, county committee,
or other managing committee of any political
party or organization in this State, before each
election in this State, TO prepare and adopt by
engraving or otherwise, ticket Nignette or
heading, with an appropriate inscription, 20 be
printed as the top OF the ticket OF the par. " on
the inside thereof, as n distinctive and charac-
terisic heading thereto Such vignette or
heading shall not be more than two inches high
by four and one-half inches wide, and in addi-
ton to the device adopted shall set forth legi-
bly, the fact that the ticket is the regular ticket
of the party with the name thereof. IL shall
also show the congressional, senatorial, and
representative districts, and county where such
ticket may be lawfully voted.
SEC 10. When such vignete and inscription
shall have been adopted and prepared. i'm
preston OF the snme, followed by the regular
ticket of such party, printed so as 20 constitute
a lawful election ballot and Sc aled up in an en-
velope, shall be filed With the county clerk of
the county where such election is 10 be held al
least ten DAYS before the opening OF the polls at
such election. Such ballot shall be kept by such
clerk on deposit and from the time of said filing
IL shall be unlawful for any person 10 initiate,
copy, or in any manner counterfeit the same.
Any person violating the foregoing provision
SHALL upon convic ion OF the same, be punished
by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or
by imprisonment in the Stte prison for u
n term not exceeding one year. or both, In the
vdiscretion of the court.
SEC H. Any person who shall knowingly
print, circulate, distribute, or cause 20 be dis
tributed any ticket tickets ballot or ballots
having thereon the vignette or any imitation OF
the vignetto or inscription of any ballot or
ticket filed with the County Clerk, but con-
tanning the name or names of any candidate or
candidates other or different from the name or
pames upon the ballot or ticket of such party
filed or deposi ed with said clerk, or who
shall Intentionally destroy or carry away any
ballot or ballots except for his own use i'm vot-
ing which shall have been furnished by the in
spectors of election for such purpose shall upon
conviction thereof. be punished by n fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars or by imprison-
ment in the State Prison not exceeding one year,
or by both such fine and imprisonment at the
discretion of the court ProUialcd. That nothing
in this act shall be construed 10 interfere with
the right of any elector TO erase or insert any
name or Duines hucI IlCheN, II uOne III
writing or by printed slips by the elector him.
self.
SEC ~ Before any ballot shall be delivered
tothe inspectors of election, IL shall be folded
by the voter that the names written or
printed thereon cannot be seen. The chair
man OF the board OF inspectors to whom such
ticket ballot,may be de livered shall, upon the
receipt thereof, place a rubber band around
said ticket. and pronounce, in an audible voice.
the name of the Aector, and II no objection shall
be made 10 him. and the said inspectors are
aatfshed that the elector Is legally qualified.
according to the constitution and laws of this
State TO vote Mt said election, he shall imme-
diately put the Il 'ket ballot i'm the box with
out inspecting the names written printed
thereon and without unfolding the same.
SEC IL. Each OF the clerks shall keep "a poll
Hat which shall contain the names oI all the
electors voting at such ele :tion.
SEC. IA. AT each adjournment OF the poll the
clerks shall, in the presence OF the inspectors.
compare their respective poll lists. compute and
set down the number OF votos. and correct all
mistakes that NAV be discovered, according TO
the decision of the board, until such poll lists
shall be made in all respects 70 correspond
SEC 10. The ballot box shnll then De opened
and the poll list placed therein. the box locked,
and at least five minutes before the removal OF
"a to extend from the opening in the lid OF said
ballot box to the key-hole la such manner as TO
completely cover both such holes, and the same
aecurely fastened thereon with sealing wax
etarrvped with the official election seal OF such
township or ward such piece OF leather Tor can
vasl and scaling wax TO be 40 arranged "a 20
render IL inposs ible 20 open either OF said holes
without breaking said seal The key shall then
be delivered TO one OF the inspectors the box to