Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-04
The walton Law.

CQnSt0nI
would thank the Editor for some infor-
nation concerning the mode OF voting
under the recent act OF the General As
sembly. The booth appropriated for the
use Of the elector must not be entered
by anybody, save the elector himself.
where he can remain hut two and a half
minutes making the necessary alterations
In his ballot preparatory to voting. Then
he must Immediately proceed TO the JUDGES
Of election close by and hand In his vote.
All this Is plain enough. But suppose
cases do arise. and many VIII. no doups'
wherein the elector, by being iliitefate,
cannot road or write. what must he dor
His next step would be to call on the
special constable to assist him, but TINS
officer has a great number OF Responsible
duties 10 attend to himself. such as the
preservation of the peace, the arfcs. VI
prisoners for infringement OF the election
law, and the bringing OF such persons
before a Justice OF the peace, &c.
or course while thus occupied the con-
stable would be unable to render any as
sistance to the elector, VINO must no'
GO In pursuit Of him nor direct anybody
else TO do Il. /, therefore, suggest tne
propriety OF appointing a responsible man
10 act in lieu of the constable, OF course
discharging his functions under the
solemn obligations Of an oath az required
by the act, and giving the officer an OPP
portunlty of doing his own legitimate
work, as i shall call IT,.
NV next query regards the manner IN
which objections must be made to voters
not legally qualified TO vote UNDER
stand none will be allowed W'thih wv
yards Of the place OF voting except such
az are actually In the ACT OF 'oens
themselves. Where then would be the OPP
portunity Of detecting a iFaunu'eht 'o'e''
making our objections?
IL Is true, II ] be In the act or nanu'hs
I'm my ballot might chance 10 see one
attempting to vote whom i knew had no
right 10 do II, but only at such time
could / possibly make my objections or
detect a fraudulent vote Some inforfna'
ton on this point Is also respectfully re-
quested.
I consider, in common with many
others, that should the Electoral Boarg
he not empowered to appoint a man in-
stead of the officer. the act should bf
amended In that particular.
Respectfully yours,
Nansemond, Va.
Our Nansemond correspondent urges
two objections:
1. That the duties Of the special consta-
BILE may be 30 numerous that he will not
have time to assist all the iliterate voters
who may apply to him for aid.
9. That the people are removed so far
from the polls that no opportunity VIII
be offered them TO challenge voters who
may offer, but are not entitled to vote.
and we meet his objections as follows:
/. The special constable, under the new
law, is especially charged with enforcing
the provisions of this act" but we do
not take 1t that he is exclusively charged
with this duty. Under section lii OF the
Code Of 1857 any constable Of a district In
which an election IL to be held. who
may be designated for the purpose by
the judges OF election, must attend at
the place OF election and preserve order
at and about the same; and. II no con-
stable be in attendance. the judges OF
election may. by writing, appoint one or
more persons specially, who shall have
all the powers of constable in the
premises. And under section li5, If any
person create disorder at the polls the
constable or any other person authorized
10 make dTTtStS may, we Tune dsSiSl
the special constable I'm suppresslng such
disorder. AS a matter OF fact, there will
hardly be a voting place at which the
regular constable of the magisterial dis
trict or some justice of the peace Will
not be In attendance Thus the special
constable having other regular officers
of the law on hand to assist in pre-
serving the peace and making arrests
need not be detained from his duties in
assisting such voters In the booths as
may apply for his services.
g The inquirer is mistaken in suppos-
ing that the people are to be kept a hun
dred yards from the polls. Section 10
Of the new law forbids any person other
than the judges and clerks and the cleo
tor desiring to vote TO approach nearer
than forty feet from the ballot-box;
and section 16 makes IL unlawful for per-
sons to "congregate and crowd within
100 feet of the voting place. SO that per-
sons desiring to challenge any voter are
at liberty to stand forty feet from the
polls, and thus are afforded ample OPP
portunty to see who may offer to vote
at any time and when a vote Is so chal-
lenged the challengers and the challenged
are at liberty to so into the immediate
presence of the judges.