Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-10-07
ELECTION LAW.
Passed By the Vest Virginia
Legislature Of 1891.
FULL TEXT OF THE MEASURE.
How You VIII Have to Cast Your
Ballot.
EVERY VOTER OUGHT TO READ
And Ponder over the Bill 50 that He viii
Make no Mistakes in Exercising His
Right Of the Elective Franchise
You Can't Paste it in Your Hat
But You Can in Your
Scrap Book.

long and with which al are more or less
familiar. IL is in some respects similar TO
the Australian system" adopted Oy otner
States, but to West Vlrginians tits entirely
new and novel. IL recognizes the
a5point chaIlengers and to suggest
10 the County Court other officials
provided that the men suggested are otner-
wise qualified 70 act as election oncers.
The secret booth or compartment feature
Of the Australian system is retained, as is
also the go FOOT limit for "heelers or
workers, " as in our present law. Another
peculiarity OF il is that there must De
voting place established in each mag1sterial
district for every $50 voters; and every en-
plover is compelled 10 allow employees four
hours, or more, IL necessary, IN which
TO vote No one can serve as
commissioner or poll clerk, who has in his
employ. or who as agent or superintendent
has under his control or management, Ten
employees who are legal voters The entire
plan should be carefully read and pre-
served, as il is Of vital Importance TO the
voter 70 know its provisions. 10 applies to
elections by the people for state, county,
district and other officers. The first three
sections of the law specify when elections
shall be held, what officers are 70 be elect
ed and when.
1t takes effect ninety days from its ap-
proval. and viii therefore be in force at the
next general election, but will not apply 70
the school election in May this year.
The first three sections Of the law specify
when elections shall be held, what officers
are to be elected and when. The full text,
which is here published for the hrst time
in any paper, is as follows:
MAGIsTERIAL DISTRICTS.
Each county shall be laid of by the coun-
81 faf not lnce
than three nor more than ten in number,
and as nearly equal as may be in territory
and population. There shall be elected in
each of said districts, containing pOpula-
ton of not exceeding twelve hundred, one
Justice Of the peace and one constable; and
ii the population OF any such district exceed
that number two justices and two con-
stables shall be elected therein. Such dis
tricts as they now exist in each county,
shall remain until changed by the county
court Tue county court may, from time TO
time, increase or diminish the num-
Der Of such districts, and change
the boundary line thereof, as necessity may
REQUIRE in order TO conform the same to
the. provisions Of the constitution OF the
1870. ISsst, before such districts shall
be increased or diminished, or the bound
ary lines thereof changed, the said court
shall cause a notice Of its intention TO do
so to be posted on the front door Of the
Court House of the county and at some
public place in each district affected there
By, for at least thirty days prior to the term
OF the court at which such action is pro-
posed to be taken. The words county
court shall be construed TO include every
tribunal in lieu thereof, created under the
provisions of section Twenty-Five, article
eight, Of the State constitution.
ELECTION PRECINCTS.
Every place of voting, in such district
shall be an election precinct, and the coun-
" court Of each county shall, at their first
regular session in the year 1892, establish
at least one voting place In each magisteri-
al district for every two hundred and fifty
voters in said district, as shown by the cleo
tiOn of 1883 or 1890, at whichever election
the greatest number Of votes were cast.
The places for voting shall be established
as far as far as possible, at the places most
convenient for the voters in the vicinity TO
attend the election. And the court may
designate any one or more Of the school
houses in said district as place or voting
therein. Each place Of voting so estab-
lished In each district shall be numbered
consecutively from one 10 the highest num-
Der Of said places Of voting, provided, that
in each magisterial district there shall be
at least two places Of voting.
VOTING PLACES NAY ne CHANGED.
6. The County Court Of any county may,
from time to time, change any place OF vOt-
ing so established, as necessity or con-
-venience may require, and may establish
additional places of voting in any such dis
|trict as the increase Of the number OF votes
therein may require. And II by reason OF
the destruction Of the house or structure at
which a precinct election has been estab
e for INV other tho aInn-
ton cannot be held thereat, and no prOvis-
ion has been made by the County Court for
holding the election at another place, the
commissioners Of elections at such place,
NAV hold the election at the place
nearest thereto which they can Sc
cure for the purpose. And in such
case they shall make known by proclama-
ton to the voters assembled at such hrst
named place Of voting, the place at which |
the election will be held. And the county |
court shall in such case establish another /
place Of voting for said precinct as soon as /
practicable thereafter. But in every case /
where place Of voting is changed, or /
new or additional place Of voting is estao- /
ished. the county court shall cause notice /
thereof TO be given by publication in two 4
published in their county, il I
there be such, representing the two politi- /
cal parties casting the highest number OF /
votes at the last preceding election in their 4
county. for at least one month before the 4
succeeding election, and by posting such /
notice at the place Of voting so establishes,
and at least four other OF the most pubic
places ia the vicinity Of such place for
ike period.
COMMISSIONERS or ELECTIONS.
? The county court Of every county shall
hold a regular or special session at the
oourt house of their county, on the hrSt
Tnesdayof the month next preceding the
month In which any election IS to De held,
nd shall appoint three qualified voters as
Of elections Tor eacn pre-
.irct in their county. Said commissioners
.SoIi he nersOns OF good standing and char
,efer and not addicted to drunkenness.
nv shall b. selected from the two polit-
- -,s,fies rhich at the last preceding
,I-.tion casf the highest number Of votes
7. t5c, mo- sterial district in which the
.,stion Hs about TO be held, ana
,86re than two Of them
belong to the same political
But 81 at any time during said SEES
lntv executive committee OF
marty from which said COM
zion are 10 be selected. APP
7fter proRided for. shall
urt q Aiting signed
mar I'd commit
,~- appoint
1dlitics4
etoact
Athis