Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1894-10-27
THE NEW ELECTION LAW.
Explanations as to the Duties OF Cen
stables and How Electors Shall vote


AS the approaching election is to be
held under the Walton law, and the
method Of voting under that law IL
somewhat novel and not iainlilar 10
our people, We give below some eN-
tracts from Judge Simmons 5 OPINION
rendered in the Buchanan case, re-
Gently decided by him. Passing upon
the duties of the constable, he said:
U"phe duties of the constable are
clearly defined III the 18th section OF
the Walton law, which is to read the
names of the candidates for the sew
eral offices to be voted forat the cleo
tion being held, as are printed Oh the
official ballot, the only ballot al
lowed to be carried into or from the
booth to be deposited in the ballot
boz.
THE constable, under fines AND
penalties, is not allowed TO Suggest
other names. If the voter desires to
vote for any other person than those
whose names appear upon the otiicla
ballot, he has the right to Go so, but
The constable has no right TO suggest
any other name than is on thai bal
lot. Nor can OF should he be re
ouired to Go more than what th(
statute requires. II he does more ht
Violates the law, and should be re
moved at the pleasure OF tie Judges
who should immediately appoint an
other vino will discharge his duties
as the law directs.
"Who aud what class OF voters L
The constable 70 assist? Those wh'
are Internationally or physically una
! hle 10 vote. How? BY reading The
names and Offices on the bailor. W ma
ballot? The official ballot; and point
! inc out TO bin the name OF names II
t5he voter may wish 10 strike out.
If the voter is physically unabi
! by reason of dimneSs OF eYeS!Sht' o
/ a palsied hand, 20 strike OUT Tn
name or names, the constable can
under the clause or otherwise al
/ him in preparing his ballot strik
"If the voter is totally blind III
constable shall prepare said halio
for sai3 elector IN accordance W.T.
the instructions OF said elecJor.
This is the only kind Of voter 10
whom the constable eau or shaA pre-
pare ballot for in accordance TO II
strucrions OF the voter.
IF the voter can see and has III
physical ability to strike out III
name pointed out by the constable
he (the voter strikes out, and nc
the constable. (See See. H..
If the constable prepares the bale
for any voter and assists him VIII
can read or write and has eyesigh
| and the use Of his hands sufficient
enable the voter to prepare his ow
vote, he violates the law.
IF he does more than read TN
name or names of the several cand
dates and the offices for which the
are to be voted, for, over to ma
that is educationally unable TO rea
and point out to him the name c
names of such as he desires to strlk
out he violates the law, provide
such voter has eyesight and the us
of his arms and hands sufficient
enable him to strike out the name
of such persons as he does not wis
to vote for:"
The method of voting, the time a
lowed for the preparation OF ballC
and voting. and the penalty for viola
ting the provisions of certain section
should be thoroughly understood b
all voters.
Except in cases of challenges, etc
no person other than the electt
Offering to vote, save the judges
election and clerks allowed by lay
shall be within forty feet Of IL
ballot-boX.
Every elector qualified to vote at
precinct shall, when he so demand
be furnished with an official bailt
by one of the judges of election
1 tor si1afI then take the said oflici;
ballot and retire to said votin!
booth.) (ae, the voter, shall the
draw line with a pen or penc
through the name or names OF I'll
candidates he does not wish to vol
for, leaving the name or names OF I'll
candidate or candidates he does wis
to vote for unscratched.y No nam
shall be considered scratched unle:
the pen or pencil mark shall extern
at least three fourths of the length {
said name: and no ballot save an 3
fetal ballot, above provided fol
shall be counted for any person.
II shall be unlawful for any electo
TO carry the official ballot furnishe
him by the Judge OF election furthe
than the voting booth, and shout
ne, after inspecting the said ballot
conclude not to vote, he must ilnmt
diately return said ballot to til
judges Of election. Except in case
/ challenges, etc. no person sha'
advise, counsel, or assist any electo
by writing, word, or gesture as {
how he shah vote or mark his ballo
after the same has been delivered {
him by the judges Of election An
person violating The provisions o
this section shall! be deemed guilt.
of misdemeanor, and upou convic
ton thereof shal! be fined not les
than $500 nor more than $1,000, ans
confined in jail sixmonths.-Fincastl
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