The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-11-18
lmmatcrial irregularities DO Not Con.
-titute Sufficient Cause for the Re
lection of Any Votes.
General Information Regarding the
Canvassing Of Votes and the Issue
Of Certificates of Election.

will determine as to who is entitled to
certificates of election. 1t is generally
known at this writing who were the sue
cessful candidates. but the fiat of the
canvassing board is essential TO war
rant any person entering upon the dis
charge of his official duties. The man
per in which the votes are counted will
proye of interest to those not familiar
with the law, which was approved March
! :, 1891:
Section .. The board Of county com.
m%issioners Of each county is ey-Oiiicio
a board OF county canvassers for the
county, and must meet as a board of
county canvassers at the usual place Of
meeting Of the board of county commits
sioners. And if at the time and place
appointed for such meetings one or
more of the county commissioner should
not attend the place Of the abscn,
tees must be supplied by one o.
more of the county officers, whose duty
it is to act in the order named, to wit:
The treasurer, the assessor, the sheriff.
so that the board of county canvasscrs
shall always consist of three acting mem
bers. The county canvassing board so
constituted shall meet at the office of
the county clerk OF such county within
ten days SUNDAYS excepted after each
election held under the laws governing
general and special elections in this
state to canvass the returns. And the
clerk of the board Of county commission
ers is the clerk of the board OF county
canvassers.
Sec. 3. II, at the time Of meeting. the
returns from zach precinct in the county
in which polls were opened have been re-
ceived the board of county canvassers
must then and there proceed to canvass
the returns: but if ali the returns have
not been received the canvass must be
postponed from day to day until all the
returns are received.
Provided, that If the returns from any
of the election precincts have rot been
received by the county clerk fifteen days
after such genera election. il shall be
the duty Of the board Of canvassers to
forthwith senG a messenger TO the Judges
Of such election precincts whose duty il
shall be to open the ballot box aud from
the returns therein enclosed make a copy
II the same and furnish the messenger
with such a CODY. and tie messenger
shall be paid out Of the county t~rcasur!
~ such county the sun of IL cents per
mile for each mile necessary and actual.
~ Travelled in going to and from said pre-
cinct. And whenever il shall appear to
the county canvassing board of any
county by satisfactory evidence that the
polls were not opened in any precinct
therein, and no return shall have been
received thercfrom, they shall certify t.
this fact and file the same, together VITA
all the evidence in the case. with the
county clerk. and make a note of the
same upon their report.
Sec. |. The canvass must be public by
opening the returns and determining
therefrom the vote Of such county or
precinct for each person voted for, and
for and against each proposition voted
upon at such election and declaring the
result thereof. .
Sec. ). In canvaeeIng the returns Of
the ~several precincts in the county 10y
the county canvasslng board. no return
shall be rejected If il can be readily as,
certained therefrom the number OF legal
votes cast for each person named therein
Tit fact that the returns do not snow
who administered the oath TO the Judges
N election. or "A failure to fill out AL TIE
certificates in the poll book, or II failure
to do or perform any other act IN or
about the making up of the returns that
1t is not essential Ia determine Tor "honl
the votes were cast, shall no bc such an
Regularity as to entitIc the sald poarn
to reject the same. but the same must
he canvassed as other returns are can
vassed.
Sec. &. The clerk Of the board must
as soon as the result is declar''' eht'r
---- - -.,-l. lAn 90 II S1HIH-
ment of such result. which statement
must show:
First The whole number Of Yotes
cast in the county.
Second-The names of ia" persons
voted for and the propositions voted :
upon.
Third The Office. 90 iii which each !
person was voted for. i.
Fourth-The nLmbcr Of votes given at {
each precinct to eaci of such persons ,
and for and against each of such prop"
sitions. ,
Fifth-The number Of votes gwen III .
the county to each of.such persons ana ,
for and against each of such pr"poSi- :
hons. !
Provided. it shall be the duty Oh thc !
Jerk Of said board to enter the abstract
, said votes upon separate sheets oil :,
iper for the following named officers: :,
First Representatives in congress, \
second Members Of the legislative ,
emily from districts comprising more
n one county.
bird Presidential electors. =
,urth All state officers and judges
60 supreme and district courts.
tn Constitutional amendments or
o, propositions voted upon by TIA"
elrs of the state at large,
6. The board must declare elected
thrsons having the highest number
of 3 given for each office 10 he filled
by yotes of a single county or sub
any thereof.
ouommissioncrs must mmeuiate
MAXI and deliver in person or by
mail,gistered package Ia each per.
son ii TO the person elected district
judgertiticate of election signed by
him a majority uf the board of