The Opelousas courier., 1896-10-03
LOUISIANA ELECTION Law.
No. 1919
------ AN ACT

wv A|
AN ACT
m nreserye the purity of the ballot by
-esrlating the name Of holding
and conducting elections; by prescri-
hing the time and methods in which
nominations shall be made and certi-
fed. for providing for the division Of
srishes. cities and towns into con-
venient election precincts; by provid-
ing for the appointment Of officers
to conduct such elections and defin-
ing their duties: by describing the
manner in which the votes of cleo
tors shall be taken, and the count and
returns thereof made; by providing
for the punishment of violations of
This law. and repeating all laws in
conflict with the same.
Section /. Be it enacted by the gen
eral assembly of the State Of Louisi-
ana, that all ballots cast in all elections
and for delegates to any constitutional
convention after the first day Of No
vember in the ear eighteen hundred
and ninety six shall be printed and dis
tributed at public expense, as herein
after provided. The printing of the
ballots, tally sheets and cards of in
structions to voters and their distribu-
ton shall be paid for by the State.
Section 2. Be- it further enacted,
etc, that the general election of the
state and parish officers shall be held
once every four years, On the first
Tuesday next following the third Mon
day in April.
-: ID # fIrthar oron+al
etc, that all officers, the time and place
of whose election is not otherwise pro-
vided for by law, shall be elected at the
time and place provided by law for
the election of senators and represent
atives.
That it shall be the duty of the gov
emo, at least thirty days before each
general election, to issue his proclama-
ton giving notice thereof, which shall
be published in the official journal.
The board of supervisors Of election
OF zach parish, shall give fifteen days
notice of every general election by ad-
vertisement in the official journal of
their parish, if there be one, and by
posting at fou public places in the par
ish if there be no official journal in said
parish. But no default by the COVER
nor or the parish board of supervisors
Of election to issue said proclamation
shall deprive the people of their rights
to hold an election as fixed by law, OF
viaiate said election when held.
Section 4. Be it further enacted.
etc, hat When the seat of any repre-.
sentative or senator becomes vacant
and there shall be a session Of the gen
eral assembly before the next genera,
election. it shall be the duty ofthe gov
ernor within five days after being off
cially notified of st,h vacancy, to is.
sue his writ Of election, directed to the
proper supervisors of election, whose
duty it shall be within three days af'
ter its receipt, to give public notice tina
an election will be held to fill such va
cancy on a date to be named by them
which shall not be less than eight, MOI
more thain fifteen days after the publ
cation of such notice, and such election
shall be conducted and the return:
thereof made in the manner required by
law for general elections.
Section 5. Be it further enacted
etc, in every year, which election:
are to be held for electors of presiden
and vice-president, said elections shall
be held on the first Tuesday next fol
lowing the first Monday in November
1896, and every four years thereafter
and are to be conducted and the return.
made in the same ann as hereir
provided for general elections. Thu
r,orot,y1, ~ ctofn mr. in m IF q va
caney in hat office, the state auditor
shall ascertain from the returns, tn
persons who received the greatest mum
Der of votes actually cast; and the gov
ernor shall issue a certificate OF cleo
ton to the said persons and they shall
be authorized to cast the vote OF tn
state for the president and vice-presi
dent.
All general elections for representa-
tiyes in congress shall be held on tn
first Tuesday next following the frs
Monday in November, 1896, and ever.
two years TIN after, and shall be con
Quoted in TIE same manner as election
for representatives to the general as
sembly n
Section s. Be it further enacted
ETC., in case of vacancy in said ofhc
of representative in congress, between
the general elections, it shall be tn
duty of the governor by proclamation
to cause an election to be held accord
ing to law, to fill such vacancy. Elec
tons shall be held in the precincts an
at the polling places hereinafter defn
ed. and herein below directed to be es
tablished.
Section Z. Be it further enacted
etc, that in all elections by the people
the person or persons having h high
est number of votes shall be deeme'
and declared to be elected; but no PEI
sons receiving the same number Q
votes, shall be deemed to be elected ii
thereby a greater number would b
elected thar required by law. TIL
election Of such officers thus not elect
ed, shall be returned to the people, pun
lie notice of ten days to be firts give
in the same manner as for a genera
election.
Section s. Be it further enacted
ETC.. that all elections shall be compie
ed in one day, and that the polls sha
be kept open at each polling place fror
the hour of seven o'clock in the tore
noon until six O'Clock in the afternoon
provided that in cities and towns hay
ing a population of ten thousand 90
900 and over, the polls shall be kep
open from six o'clock in the forenoo
until four O'Clock in the afternoon.
Section 9. Be it further enacted
ETC., that the days upon which a gen
eral or local election shall hereafter b
= kAIL a.-la. Ale at sIo11 for all NIL