The Somerset reporter., 1892-09-01

such cerks-two Republicans and two Dem
ocrats.
If polling place contains less than 900
inhabitants, two such clerks are enough
one Republican, one Democrat. In all cases
one clerk from each of the two parties shall
be detailed by the municipal officers as bal
lot clerks, who shall have charge of the bal
lots and deliver them to the voters.
The appointments of election and ballot
clerks should be in writing and recorded in
the office of the city, town or plantation
clerks.
Division of Towns and Wards.
This section applies to wards of cities and
to towns containing more than 4, 900 iHlldb-
ttantS, such division being discretionary,
not mandatory.
If such divisions are made each polling
place 80 provided for must contain not less
than 800 potCrS and such division must be
made siTtU dayS bcforc clcction.
Wherever such division is made municipal
officers should at once notify the secretary
of state of the names Of the voting precincts
in such towns or cities, if any, as No. /, No.
9, etc.
Instruction Cards and Specimen BALLOTS.
There are two kinds of these cards, known
as No. and No. .. Municipal officers and
clerks are directed to post one card of in
structions of each number in cHch voting
booth or marking compartment; also to
post in or about the polling place, outside
the guard rail, not less than three of each
kind of these cards and not less than fire
specimen ballots. These to be posted i'm
mediately after the ballots are delivered to
the ballot clerks, at the opening of the polls.
The cards and ballots necessary under
this section will be furnished by the secre-
tary of state with the general ballots
Check Lists.
This law is not intended to change exist
ing laws relating to check lists, except that
the ballot clerks must he provided with such
a check list, and at all polling places there
must be such ballot clerks, all p0Hinq places
must be supplied NTH t,oo such LISTS, one
for use of the presiding officers and one for
such ballot clerks
Municipal Officers and Town Clerks.
This law is not intended to change exist
ing laws relating to the duties of these Off
GERS at meetings held for elections.
The municipal officers preside at such
meetings, pass upon the qualifications of
voters, receive, sort, count and declare the
votes and with the town clerk prepare the
the election returns, as has hitherto been
the practice.
Votes must be counted, declared and re-
turns made on the usual and well known
FORMS which will be supplied rs heretofore
by the secretary of state precisely the same
a. at the last and preceding September cleo
tons.
The election and ballot clerks provided
for by this law perform none of these duties,
but arr to safely keep the ballots, to deliver
d. H.,
presiding officer or officers to assist il ncces-
sary in marking the ballot and to return
spoiled and defective ballots and check lists
to the town Glcrk. Sections 81, 23 and 21
The attention of municipal officers is
called to chapter l2l public laws Of 1891,
which provides that nv touns having 800
or more voters no name shall be added to
the list of voters on the day of ecciion etc
Constitutional Amendments.
These, by this law, must be voted upon,
on the same ballot which contains the
sames of candidates for the different Offices
md not on separate ballot as formerly.
Vote by marking 4 opposite zach ques-
lion in the square under the words Yes
mo"
Penalties.
The last four sections of the law prescribe
the penalties for violation thereof, and are
sufficiently stringent to mort careful con
,deration. These sections are printed as
cards of instruction No, =, and are to be
posted the same as and with cards No | be-
lore referred to-
To Clerks of Cities.
The secret ballot law applies to all city
elections for the election of municipal off
oers, and the same duties which are assigned
nv IT. TO the secretary of state in state plec-
lions are assigned to city clerks within
their respective cities in city elections
There are a few differences, wholly of a
minor Sort but the system is the same for
cities as for the state, and the forms herein
given can be easily adapted to the require
nents of city use.