The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-11-03
West Virginia Election Law.


The election in West Virginia in
Novemher next will he conducted /
under the modified Australian hal I
lot system, passed l.s the last LeSis
latnre OF the State Under The laws I
of the State man must be resi- 4
dent Of the State twelve months be /
fore be can vote. There Is 30 regis i
tratioD. the names of qualified voters |
being returned by the county and /
city assessors. The failure 10 appear |
on the assessors lists does not dis /
qualify man from voting. but it
places on him the duty OF proving |
his eligibility to vote. The late law
allowed voter to vote anywhere in
the limits Of the district in Which he
resided Tue new law requires him
to vote in the precinct of the district
IN which he resides The following
instructions for the guidance OF 70
tiers have been issued.
The ye,er can procure ballots Of
the poll clerks only.
On entering the election room the
voter will give his name and residence
to one of the pol clerks, who will
give him one ballot. On receipt of
The ballot the voter shall forthwith
and without leaving the enclosed
space retire alone to one Of the booths
or compartments and shall there
prepare his ballot.
In the preparation of his ballot
the voter shall decide, first, which
ticket {wbether the Republican,
Democratic or other) be will vote,
and.he will then defaco all the other
tickets on the ballot sheet bf draw
ing one or more lines. with pen and
ink. from the top to the bottom
thereof, or across the heading there
of. He shall then fold the same so
that the face thereof shall not lie ex-
posed and so that the names Of the
pill clerks thereon shall be seen IN
less be elect to vote openly.
A voter desiring TO erase the name
of any candidate from the ticket he
intends TO vote. or To vote for any
other candidate or person in his
stead may strike the name printed
from his ticket and write in The blank
space Immediately below the name
stricken off the name Of the person
/ for whom he desires to vote.
Ii the voter spoil, deface or multi
ate the ballot delivered him he may
return it to the poll clerks and re
eeiye another in place thereof. He
must not destroy it,
He must vote the ballot he re-
ceives. or return it to the poll clerks
A voter cannot remain in the
booth or compartment longer than
i've minutes.
II a voter for lack Of education or
by reason of his physical disability,
is unable to prepare his ballot, and
for that reason requires the assist
ance Of the ballot clerks. both OF
them must 90 with him to the voting
booth. and one of them in the pres
ence of the other, and out of sight
and hearing of all others, must pre-
pare his ballot for him rs fthe voter
directs Ii 10 be done Aud if the
voter requests it to be done. the bal.
lot must be read over 10 him as Sc
prepared after it is done, or the voter
may require the poll Jerks TO show
him the relative position of the names
of the candidates on the ballot and
then retire 10 the voting booth and
prepare his ballot.
No voter shall hold conversation
or communication with any other
person than the poll clerks or com
missioners of election while in the
election room.
When the voter has prepared his
ballot he shall vote forthwith and
before leaving the polling place He
shall give his name and present bis
ballot to one Of the commissioners
of election. When be has voted he
shall retire Immediately from the
election room and beyond the sixty
feet limit thereof
Section so, chapter 3, Of the code
of West Virginia, concerning cleo
lions by the people, provides that III
at any time during the election any
qualified voter shall make affidavit
before commissioner of election
that any person who has voted is an
/ illegal voter in sach precinct, the
person accused shall at once he ar.
rested bY any constable or other per
son designated by the election con
missioners To make the arrest, and
by him delivered to the civil anthor.
tiles. Any person desiring to make
such affidavit shall be admitted To
the election room for that purpose.
Immediately after the close Of the
election the commissioners Of cleo
tion shall deliver such affidavit ia
some justice OF the peace in the mag.
isterial district, who shall proceed
thereon as if the affidavit bad been
made before him
Section 76 provides: If any
person shall induce or attempt to in
dace any voter Ia write, paste OF
Otherwise place on his ballot the
name OF any person, or any sign OF
any device Of any kind as distin
gushing mark by which To indicate
To any other person how such voter
voted. or shall enter into ar attempt
to Form any agreement or conspiracy
with ant other person to induce or
attempt to induce a voter to SO place
a Distinguishing name or mark 90
his ballot, whether or net said act be
committed or attempted 10 be com
mitted, such person so offending
shall be guilty Of a felony, and on
conviction Thereof be imprisoned in
the penitenIiary not less than five
years, or he may. at the discretion Of
the court he fined not less than one