The Opelousas courier., 1896-10-03

oo ehe feSistraT on voters OF the parish
OF Orleans. n the other to be the civil
sheriff. The said board Of supervisors
snail serve without compensation.
IN several boards Of supervisors
the parish of Orleans excepted. shall.
at least thirty days before an election
appoint as election officers for each vot-
ing precinct, three commissioners Of
election and one clerk. Such officers
hall be qualified voters In the ward OF
which said precinct forms a part and
men Of good repute and standing. The
commissioners shall be SO apportioned
as that not more thai two Of said com
missioners shall be of the same political
party.
Sec. II. Be it further enacted. etc.
that in the parish Of Orleans, it shall
he the duty Of the board Of supervisors,
at least thirty days prior to any cleo
ton, appoint six commissioners and two
clerks to preside over the election at
each polling precinct. Said commits
sioners shall be qualified voters in the
ward CT which such polling precint
forms a part, and shall be appointed
from lists to contain not less than six
names. furnished by each OF the several
political parties, and nominating bod
les. The commissioners shall be Sc
apportioned as to equally represent all
the parties or nominating bodies au-
thoriZed under this act to make nomina-
toms, in so far as practicable.
Sec. Is. Be it further enacted. etc
that each of the several political par
ties Cor nominating bodies) having can
didates upon the Official BALLOT, shall
voting precinct, and said watchers shall
be appointed for each election, by the
several political parties, Tor nom.n-
ating bodies) and shall be commission
ed by the board of superv sors. Said
watchers shall remain without the
guard rail during the polling of the
vote. except when casting their individ.
uai votes, and shall not be permitted t.
electioneer, engage in any political dis.
cussionS. or in any manne interfere
with, detain or obstruct any voters
Said watchers shall be allowed to enter
(the space within the guard RAID ons
after the closing Of the polls, and there
remain there after, (within said guare
raid during the canvass and count Of
the vote. Watchers shall take no par
in such v or count, nor hav.
any voice in the conduct thereof.
Sec. IA. Be it further enacted, etc.
hat the commissioners Of election shal
attend at the times and places desig
mated in their respective precincts, a
all elections. The commissioners AND
clerks shall receive So for each days &C
tual service, and the deputy sheriffs at
| tending the election shall receive IS an6
no mileage for a C days actual ser
vice, not exceeding three days, to be
| paid by the parish or municipality.
Sec. 16. Re it further enacted, etc.
that the commissioners shall possess full
authority to maintain regularity ans
order and to force obedience to theil
lawful commands during an election
and during the V OF the votes af
ter the closing Of the poll, and shall
have full authority to preserve peac'
and good order at and around the pol
ing places, and to keep access thereto
open and unrestricted, and may requir'
any police officers, constables or othe
Persons present TO communicate thei
orders and directions, and to assist IA
the performance of the duties in thi
section enjoined.
Sec. Is. Be it further enacted. ect.
that the commissioners Of election shall
preserve order and decorum at election
and shall have power to commit 7
prison any disorderly person for a tim
not to extend beyond the -FOUR of clos
ing the poll; provided that said person
shall be permitted to vote before bein,
committed to prison.
Sec. II. Be it further enacted, etc.
that the v and count Of the bal
lots, as provided in this act, shall b
begun Immediately upon the closing O
the polls and shall be proceeded with
without interruption and dslay, unit
compile ted, during all the count, thre
tally sheets be kept thereof. the sal
tally sheets shall have the tallies mark
ed in lines from the beginning to tn
end of the page, and the total numbe
OF ta1lies shall be written in figures i'm
mediately after the end of the tally
and in letters so as to prevent any al
teration thereof. Any commissioner Q
other person who shall interfere wit
delay or attempt to delay he count @
the ballots shall be guilty Of q felony
and punished as provided for in Gee
ton A Of this act, and any person VIII
shall steal, attempt to steal Or aid o
abet in stealing the ballot box, ballot:
tally sheets, poll lists Or other appara
tus or papers of the election shall b
deemed guilty of a felony and punishe
as prOvided for in section A. OF thi
act.
Sec. Is. Be it further enacted, etc
that prior to the public declaration G
the vote Of an election, which snau o
made at each precinct as soon as tn
eount has been completed, no state
ment shall be made by any commission
ar of the number of ballots cast, tn
number OF votes present, the numbe
of votes given for any person or for an
officer. the name of n person Whc
has been voted on, or of any other fae
tending to show the state Of the poll
Any commissioner who violates any c
the provisions of this act shalt De pur
ished as provided for in section Il {
this act, but nc such ioiatlo snai
any way invalidate n returns OF tn
votes cast, duly made by the commits
SINGERS. or affect the title OF n PEI
son who is duly declared to be eleete
to any Office.
Any election commissioner who inter
tionsaIly makes, or attempts to make,
false v Of the ballots cast, or an
false return of the result OF the eiectiei
or any person who induces, or attempt
to induce any such commissioner y
do shall be deemed guilty OF a felon!
and upon conviction thereof snail 9
punished as provided in. section II {