Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-05-19

1.-THE following note of changes in
the election laws was prepared by
Chairman Dawson of the Republican
State Committee.
The acts of 1898 lpp. 6o-74) make
important changes in the general cleo
ton law of West Virginia as contain
ed in the Code Of 1891. The sections
80 amended are S, 6, 10. "a, GO. SIS, 81
and 90 of chapter ). Code of 1891.
These changes provide:
1. That the county court divide the
m~agisterial districts of each county
into election precincts. There will be
at least n voting place in each mag
isterial district and but one in each
precinct. at the place most conven-
lent for the voters thereof. Each mag
i~sterial district is to be divided into
precincts so that there shall be as near
as possible 200 voters, an | not over
$50 voters, in each precinct. according
to the last election for President of the
United States. The county court
may change the boundaries of any
precinct, or divide a precinct into two
or more, or consolidate two or more
precincts, but not SO as to place more
than $50 voters in a precinct; but no
such change to be made within 90
days next preceding an election, and
not until notice thereof is given as
provided in amended section 6; and
notice of any such change after it is
made, must be published in two news
papers, etc. All such proceedings,
including the boundaries of election
precincts, must be entered in the re-
cords of the ELECTION Precinct Re-
cord" to be kept by the clerk of the
circuit court, and open to the inspec-
ton of any citizen Of the county.
2. That every voter must vote in
the election precinct of which he is a
resident on the day of the election.
He must have been a resident of the
State for one year, and of the county
for 90 days, next preceding an cleo
ton. (Amended Sec. I6.)
3. Amended section 81 provides
how the ballots are to be printed and
prepared for voting; and it forbids
the name of a candidate for any office
to be printed in the same column with
that of another candidate for the same
Office who was nominated by a con-
vention or primary election. 1t also
provides that a half-inch space shall
be left between the names of the can
didates for Presidential electors, as
we'll as between the names of all other
candidates.
Under this section a voter may, in
erasing the ballots other than the one
he wishes to vote, use a pen and ink
or an indelible pencil.
4. 1t is not necessary to notice the
slight amendments to section 66, pro-
viding how the vote is to he counted,
and the result thereof proclaimed; nor
as to municipal elections, in amended
section IS. Amended sections 50,
providing for mandamus to compel
performance of duty, is not of interest
to the general reader.
S. Amended sections or and 90
provide that each assessor shall list
each voter in the election precinct in
which the voter resides; and that the
clerk of the county court shall certify
one copy of the list of the voters in
each election precinct to the commits
s%ioners of election of that precinct.
1t is, therefore. important that every
voter be listed in the election precinct
in which he resides. If, after being
listed in one precinct, he moves into
another precinct before election, the
voter should be listed in his new pre-
cinct wherein he expects to offer to
vote.
1t is also very important that each
voter be acquainted with the bound
aries of his precinct, and each assessor
ought to carry with him a copy of the
order of the county court establish
ing the boundaries of all precincts in
his assessment district.
Assessors began listing April I.
Every voter should see that he is
properly listed.