Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-10-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Election Law.
The Chairman Of the Democratic and
Republican Parties Haze 4greed
to Strjclly Enforce rs Pro
ViSioas.

vtsioas.
To the Voters Of the State Of Hes
VirgiRia!
at the extra session of the Legis.
Iature commencing January 10, 1890,
the following law concerning cleo
tions was enacted with the view OF
maintaining political purity at the
polls and prescribing punishment for
any violation thereof.
Sec. ?. Whoever, being caudi-
date for any office, loans or gives,
directly or indirectly, or offers or
promises to loan, or give money, OF
anything of value, to any elector, for
the purpose of influencing or retain
ing the vote of such elecuor, or in
duce such elector to work or labor
for the election of such candidate, or
to refrain from working or Iaboring
for the election OF any other candi,
date; or to any person to secure or
to retain the influence or vote of such
elector, in his behalf as such candi-
date or to he used by such person in
any way to influence the vote of any
elector, or of electors generally, for
himself or any candidate or ticket !;
and whoever, hires or otherwise en-
ploys for consideration, any person
to work at the polls on election day,
for the election of any candidate, to
be voted for at such election, on con
viction thereof, shall be fined not
lest than three hundred dollars nor
more than one thousand dollars, and
shall be confined in the county Jail
not less than thirty days nor more
than six months.
Sec. 3. Any person who shall give,
or offer to give, directly or Indirect
ly, any money, property or other
thing of value, to any eIector to inau-
ence his vote at any regular election
held in this State pursuant to law
or who shall, ut any such election,
soiicit,furnish or receive any money,
who shall aid, advise, COUNSEL 0F su9. 8.
gest TO any person, or to persons
generally, to use or procure any
money or other means TO be used to
induce, hire or buy any person or
persons to vote or refrain from voting
for any candidate or candidates, oI
to remain away from the polls at any
election, whether or not any such
person shall act or attempt to ACT
upon any such counsel, advice OIL
suggestion, shall be guilty Of misde.
meanor, and upon conviction thereof,
shall be fined not less than three
hundred dollars nor more than
Que thousand dollars, and shall be
confined in the county Jail not less
than thirty days nor more than six
months.
Sec. 4. Any person who shall, di-
rectIY or indirectly, give, offer or
promise to give. to any elector any
money, property, or other thing OF
value, for the purpose of preventing,
influencing, inducing or procuring
such elector to refrain from voting
Or 10 remain away from the polls al
any election held under laws Of thi:
State, shall be guilty of a misde
meanor and upon conviction thereof
shall be fined not less than three hun.
dred dollars nor more than one thou
sand dollars. and shall be confined in
the county Jail not less than thirty
days nor more than six months.
Sec. ). Any person not duly au.
thorized by Law, who shall, during
the progress of any election in thi.
State, or after the closing Of the polls
and before the ballots are counted
and result ascertained. or within sig
months thereafter, break open or vi
olate, the seals or locks or any ballo
box, paper, envelope, or bag in wbici
| ballots have been deposited at or al
/ ter such election, or who shall OBJ
tain possession Of such ballot box
/ paper, envelope or bag, containing
such ballots, and cancel, withhold
or destroy such ballots, or who shall
| fraudulently or forcibly add to or di
minish the number of ballots legal,
deposited therein, or who shall fraud
ulently make any erasures or alter
alton of any kind upon any tall,
sheet, poll book, list of voters o
election returns deposited therein
shall be guilty of felony, and upol
conviction thereof, shall be confined
in the penitentiary not less than on
year nor more than three years.
Sec. 6. 1t shall be the duty Of th
4 judge OF the Circuit Court, at ever,
term thereof, TO give this act ia spe
ciai charge to the grand jury.
Sec. z. Every person called as
witness to any violation of any of tn
provisions of this act, shall be com
pelled to testify fully, but his testi
mony shall not be given in evidenc
against him in any prosecution 70
such offense.
! See. 8. Nothing in this act shall b,
/ so construed as to prevent the en-
pioyment of political speakers in an.
campaign, or to prevent the holding
Eof political demonstrations, or til
distribution or circulation Of cam
paign documents and literature 10
party purposes
+ Aud we further call attention 4