The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-07-26
AN ADDRESS
To the Democratic
Electors.
RULES FOR ELECTION
How to Secure an Honest Vote
and Prevent Fraud.
DUTIES OF JUDGES AND CHECKERS
The Law Governing Elections Which Every
Citizen Should Read, Observe
and Enforce.
RULES FOR ELECTION
DUTIES OF JUDGES AND CHECKERS
HEADQUARTERS

SALT LAKE CITY. July y, 1891.
To secure that success to the Democratic
party at the ensuing election which is its
due by right of voting numbers, it will be
necessary to observe the following iDstruc-
tons. The county and precinct commit
tees, and all who will take an active part
in the election, officially and otherwise, are
urgently solicited to pay strict attention to
every item:
Every precinct should have committee
of at least three capable and willing men TO
take charge of election affairs in the pre-
cinct. Large precincts should be divided
into districts, and one bright man ap-
pointed to procure complete list of the
voters in his district; he should see that
all electors who belong to the Democratic
party, or who support its candidates, go to
the polls on election day. The lists of
names should be furnished Immediately to
the county committee and copy retained
by the precinct committee.
One reliable man should be appointed as
election manager for the Democratic party
in each precinct, to take charge Of election
affairs therein. He should be on the spot
to receive reports from other workers for
the party, give such direction and advice as
may be needed, and communicate with the
county committee and take any other action
that may be necessary.
There should be two Democratic checkers
at each polling place. Under the rules one
Of these at time is TO be allowed inside
the poll room. The other is to relieve him
when it is necessary fer him to withdraw.
The checkers should be furnished with a
full list OF the voters of the precinct, or of
the polling district, as the case may be. As
each person votes, his name should be
checked off on the list. If any voter is
rejected, the checker should make note of
II, the cause OF rejection and the names of
witnesses thereto. If any person not
entitled to vote is permitted to do so, the
checker should note his name and as many
particulars as opportunity will permit. AS
| the election progresses he should furnish
the election manager with the names of
Democratic voters who have not yet voted.
He should on no account or occasion leave
his post until relieved by the other checker.
| There should also be two Democratic
challengers at each poll, one to relieve the
| other as occasion may require. They
should have the names of all persons re-
gistered in the precinct who are not legally
entitled 10 vote, with the cause of chal-
lenge plainly written opposite each name.
No challenge should be made without good
and sufficient cause. The legal causes for
challenge are: Non-residence, regis
tration, non-citizenship, failure tc take the
registration oath. personating voter,
poiygamy, unlawful cohabitation, and con-
viction for bigamy, polygamy, unlawful
rehabilitation, adultery, fornication or in
cest. II is not cause Of challenge
that a voter has been, if he is
not now, polygamist- No person is en-
titled to vote who has not resided in the
territory for SIX months and in the precinct
one month previous to the day of registra
| ton. If the challenger is convinced that a
person intending to vote is personating an
other, he should challenge him on the
ground that he is not the Identical person
who is registered. and he should be re-
quired TO swear TO his idedtity or his vote
should be rejected. If the person chal-
lenged persists in attempting to vote, de-
mand that he be sworn and see that he an
swers proper questions under oath before
his ballot is put into the box. Challenger
should make a note of each case and the re-
suit. He should not leave his post un til re-
lieved by the other challenger.
The Judge Of election for the Democratic
party, at each poll, should become
] thoroughly familiar with the special in
these he will learn the law and the rules
governing the election. These must be
strictly complied with. He should see that
/ the other judges conform to them in every
particular, and in case of failure. enter his
protest and make note of the proceedings
This should be carefully observed in any
and every case where person not entitled
to vote is allowed to cast ballot He
should administer the oath to challenged
persons when the other judges refuse to do
So and fearlessly stand up for the rights of
his party in every particular. If any Dem
ocratic voters are improperly rejected he
should protest against such action and
make note thereof He should stay with
the ballot box until the count is completed
and nos leave for any cause at any time
until then, unless some Democrat is pres
ent to watch closely all the proceedings:
and even then his absence must be merely
temporarily. He should watch every
ballot as it is received, to see 1t is not
dropped, or changed for another; see that
no ballots are allowed around the box
within reach of the Judge who deposits the
ballots; make sure that,the count at the
close is correct. and that the returns are
properly made out and certified. When the
count is finished, in addition to the official
returns, he should make out two correct
copies of the abstract of returns, sign
them, mail or send one copy Immediately to
Elias A. Smith, secretary of the Demo
cratic territorial central committee, Salt
Lake city, and carefully preserve and keep
the other until it is required by that COM
mlttee. This is very important and should
be strictly observed.
The Judge Of election, the checkers and
challengers and the manager of election
for each precinct should be at the polling
place, with everything needful at hand, be-
fore the time for opening the polls. Every
body present, including the voter, should