The Russellville Democrat., 1891-03-05
NEW ELECTION LAW.
The Bill Passes the House and
 the Senate.
Outline of the Measure Framed After the Australian Ballot System The Three Prin-
 cipal Features.

The bill is quite lengthy, the mos important feature being tue qualifi cations of voters and the manner o polling, and the care of the ballot boxes.
 A State Board of Election Com missioners is provided for, to consis of the governor, the auditor and sec retary of state, who in turn appoin county commissioners whose duty il is to look to the selection of judges and clerks of election.
 Another peculiar provision IS tha in precincts in which more than l0t votes were cast at the election nexI proceeding the one then being held the judges of election and the sheriff in attendance shall so conduct ad mlttance to the voting place as te permit persons of the white and col ored races to cast thelr votes alter nately.
 The county election commissioners are required to provide for each cleo tion precinct ballot box, with lock and key, two blank poll-books, with sufficient pages to record the names of all voters in the precinct, tally sheets, and envelopes, in which to seal up the ballots and certificates. They shall also provide on sheets separate from the poll books blank forms of certificates prepared in such manner as will enable the judges of election to properly certify the re suit of the election, upon which cer tificates shall be indorsed blank form of the oath to be taken by the judges and clerks before entering upon the discharge of their duties. These materials shall be paid for by the several counties of the State.
 COUNTING THE BALLOTS.
 After the closing of the polls, the judges may, for good reason, adjourn the count for any reasonable period, not beyond tue day succeeding that on which the election was held. Pending the making of the count, any judge shall have the right to re- nam with the ballot box but during the time for which the count is ad journed, safe place of deposit may be agreed upon by all the judges. The returns when completed must be attested by both the judges and clerks, and delivered by one of the judges, free for the inspection of all persons.
 As soon as the returns from all the precincts are received, but in no event later than the seventh day at ter the election, the county commis sioners shall, from the certificates and ballots received from the sever al precincts, proceed to ascertain and declare the result of said election, and shall, within fifteen days after the day of said election, deliver a certificate of his election to any per son having the highest number oi legal votes for member of the House of Representatives, or any county or township office, and the said com missioners shall also file in the of fee of the Clerk of the Circuit Court a certificate setting forth Tn detail the result of said election.
 At any time before the county election commissioners shall finally complete the canvass of the returns and make declaration of the result thereof, any candidate voted for who may be dissatisfied with the re turns from any preclnct may have a recount of the votes cast therein, by presenting to the county election commissioners petition showing reasonable grounds for beletving that the return, as made by the judges of election, does not give a correct statement of the vote as act ually cast, as the same is shown by the ballots returned with the certlh cate of the judges. Upon the pray. CT of such petitions being granted, the commissioners shah open the package containing the said ballots and proceed to recount the same in the manner prescribed by law for the count to be made by the judges in the first instance, and the result as found upon such recount, if the same differs from that certified by the judge, shall be included in the convsss as the vote fer the par ticular precinct for which said re count was ordered and made. After the recount is completed, the ballots shall again be sealed and kept as herein provided.
 The county election commission CTS shall retain the custody of and safely keep all ballots and certifieat es returned to them from the severa precincts for period of six months after which tune the same shall be destroyed, unless the commissioners shall be sooner notified in writing that the election of some person vot ed for at such election and declared to have been elected, has become contested, or that criminal prosecu tion has been begun against any of fcer of election, or person voting thereat, for any fraud in said cleo tion, before tribunal of competent jurisdiction, in which event, so many of said ballots and certificates a' may relate to matters involved 1T said contest, or any prosecution shall be preserved for use as evi dence in such contest or prosecu tion.
 QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS.
 Every male citizen of the United States, or male person who has de clared his intention of becoming 1