Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-05-30
THE ELECTION LAW.

sponsible bidder. Ballots other than |
those caused to be printed by the res
pective boards Of ballot commissioners
.ccording to the provisions of this
HAPPIER, shall not be cast, received nor
ounted in any election.
All ballots prepared under the pro-
visions of this act, shall be printed on
white paper of uniform size, of the |
same quality, and sufficiently thick
that the printing cannot be distin
guished from the back, and shall con-
tain the name and residence of every |
and idate whose nomination has been
CERTIFIED or filed according to the pro-
visions of this act and no others.
The names of all candidates nomi-
mated by each political party respec-
lively, shall be printed upon the
ballots in columns, one column for
each political party, each column con-
tanning the names of candidates nonli
mated by the same political party, and
10 others and the candidates shall be
arranged in groups, under the designa-
ion of the offices for which they are
respectively elected. At the head of
each column of political party nonina-
lions shall be printed in clear bold
type the name of the political party Tor
principles which the candidates repre-
sent as contained in the certificates of
nominations and sub-headings may be
Ilaced over each group to indicate the
POLITICAL division for which the respec-
i've groups are to be elected.
Immediately after the names of the
,andidates for each particular Office
shall be left blank space large enough
to contain as many written names Of
candidates as there are such offices to
| De filled, in which the voter may insert
| the name of any person, not printed on
| he ballot, for whom he desires to vote
as candidate for such office. The ballots
shall be so printed as to give to each
voter a clear opportunity to designate
~ a cross mark (X) in a sufficient mar
gin, at the right of the name of each
andidate, his choice of candidates, and
vote shall be counted for candidate
1nly when the voters choice is so de-
,ignated by such cross mark.
The county court in each county, be-
| fore each election, shall secure in each
voting precinct in the county a suita-
BILE room or building in which to hold
the election, and shall cause the same
to be suitably provided with suffi-
cient number of booths or compart-
! meuts. each containing a table, coun
ter or shelf, and furnished with proper
supplies for preparing the ballots, so
that in the preparation thereof, they
may be secured from the observation
Of others, and guardrail shall be so
constructed and placed about said
building that only such persons as are
inside said rail can approach within five
feet of the ballot boxes where the votes
are being taken. And no person either
inside or outside of the said guard rail
hall approach nearer than five feet to
any booth or compartment, while the
election is being held, except the voters
to prepare their ballots, or the poll
Jerks when called on by voter to
assist N the preparation Of his ballot
The number Of such booths or compart-
ments shall not be less than two nor
more than five, and no persons other
than election officers and voters engag-
ed in receiving, preparing, or deposit
ing their ballots, shall be permitted to
De within said rail, except by authori-
ty of the commissioners of election for
he purpose of keeping order and en-
orcing the law.
Section 40 and those following pro-
vide against disturbances at the polls
hat each of the two parties polling
the largest number Of votes, shall have
one challenger at the voting room, to
De appointed by the county executive
committee, and prescribes their duties
ixes penalties for Illegal voting COM
oels every employer to give his en-
ployes time to vote, etc.
CONDUCTING THE ELECTION.
Not more than one voter for each
compartment mentioned in section As
IF this chapter shall be allowed in the
lection room at one time, and no per-
son other than election officers, chal-
lengers and voters engaged in receiv-
ng, preparing and depositing their
BALLOTS, shall be permitted to be with
IL the rail, expect by authority of the
board OF election judges for the purpose
If keeping order and enforcing the
aw.
On receipt of his ballot, the voter
shall forthwith, and without leaving
the enclosed space, retire alone to one
Of the booths or compartments provid-
ed for the purpose, and shall prepare his
ballot, as provided in section "a of this
chapter. After preparing his ballot,
the voter shall fold the same so that
the face thereof shall not be exposed,
aud ca +1,of Tho mac, cf +I,a Io1a
thereon shall be seen, unless he elect
to vote openly. When the voter has
prepared his ballot he shall then vote
forthwith, and before leaving the poll
ing place He shall give his name
and present his ballot to one of the
commissioners OF election, who shall
proclaim in a loud and distinct tone
the name of the person offering TO vote,
and hand the ballot to another of said
commissioners of election, of differ
ent political party than his own, and
if a majority OF said board are satisfied
that the ballot is single, and that the
person is entitled to vote at the said
election, one of the said commissioners
of election shall deposit the ballot in
the ballot-boX, and the poll clerks
shall enter the name of the voter on
the poll books, numbering the voters
in the order in which they vote. The
commissioners of election may inspect
every ballot before it is deposited in the
ballot box to ascertain whether it is
single, but without unfolding or unroll-
ing it, so as to disclose its contents.
When the voter has voted he shall
retire Immediately from the election
room and beyond the sixty foot limit
thereof
Not more than one person shall be
permitted to occupy any booth or COM
partment at one time and no person
shall remain i'll or occupy a booth or
compartment longer than may be ne
cessary to prepare his ballot, and in no
event longer than five minutes. No
voter or person offering to vote shall
hold any conversation or coinmunica-
ton with any other person than the
poll clerks or commissioners of election
while in the election room.
| If ballots are not voted they must be
returned to the clerk.
When a voter declares to the clerk
| that he cannot road mr. 1r-rita or SC ,,.,o