Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-24
NEW ELECTION LAWS
SEVERAL or THEM ENACTED by
THE RECENT LEGISLATURE.
THE CHANGES ARE NOT MATERIAL.
Provision for Filling Vnncnncies in
Electoral Boards-The Appointment
of Judges i'm Special Cascs-FOrm
of POll-BOOks, Etc.
of PoiI-BOOlSs. Etc.

A good deal of interest has been mani
Tested by people who pay special atten'
ton to political matters as 10 what
changes the General Assembly. at its re-
cent session. made in the election laws of
the State. A great many bills Of this cha
racter. some Of them quite radical, were
offered, but very few were enacted into
law There were, however, four bills
passed during the closing days Of the ses-
sion, and all Of them were approved
March Sd. None Of these acts make very
far-reaching changes in the existing sta
tutes
One of these bills. designed TO terminate
the offices Of judges Of election at a GER
tain date. reads.
I. BE il enacted by the General Assem-
bly, Of Virginia, That the terms of office
Of the judges Of election appointed by tho
electoral boards Of the various counties
and cities Of the State heretofore and
prior to the 81st day Of May, 1885, shall
terminate on the said 31st day Of May,
1855. and the offices of all judges of cleo
ton shall be. and are, hereby declared va
cant as Of said date This act shall be in
force from It's passage.
VACANCIES IN ELECTORAL BOARDS. |
Another Of the bills amends section u
n the Code. in relation to filling vacan-
c.es In electoral boards, so as to read as
follows:
II all the members Of the Electoral
Board for any county or city shall fail
10 qualify within the time prescribed by
this chapter, IL shall be the duty of the
1udge Of the county court of /
such county or corporation court |
az such city, upon the application in !
writing Of FIVE qualified voters Of such /
county or city, to appoint members of |
said board required by law. And If any |
member Of said board fail TO qualify, or |
II vacancies occur on said board. by |
death or otherwise, and the remaining |
members of said board fail to fiji said /
vacancies as required by law, then the /
county or corporation court or Judge of |
such court, as the case may be, shall,
upon petition of five qualified voters of |
said county or city, and upon five DAYS
notice TO the other members Of said
board, fill any vacancy existing on said
board from any cause. Any of these
duties may be discharged either in term |
or vacation. But the duties imposed
upon the court or judge under this sec
ton shall be performed in the city of
Richmond by the Circuit Court OF said
city. or by the judge thereof
This act shall be in force from its pas
sage.
FILLING PLACES OF JUDGES.
Section III of the Code, in relation to
designating men to act in the place of
judges of election who fail TO attend. is
amended to read thus:
II shall be the duty of the electoral
board OF each city and county, elected at
the present session OF the General As
sembly, on or after the list day of June. |
1893, and on the LIST day Of June in each
year thereafter, 10 appoint three com
petent citizens, being qualified voters
VINO shall constitute the judges OF cleo !
ton for all elections TO be held in their |
respective election districts for the term
of one year, dating from their appoint
ment, or until their successors are ap-
pointed, and who shall have power to
appoint two clerks for each place of
voting at such election, TO whom snail be
administered by the judges, or either of
them, or by the officer swearing the
Judges, the same oath as that taken by
the said judges Whenever il is possible
to do so the persons so appointed judges
)f election shall be chosen for each
voting place from persons known TO be-
ong 10 different political parties, each
'ne OF whom shall be able to read ana S
write. The members of any electoral I
board who shall wilfully fail 10 comply ,
with this requirement shall be deemed
;uilty or a miSdemeanor, and on convic-
Ion thereof shall be fned not less than {
100 nor more than $500; but no election v
hail be deemed invalid when the Judges :
hail not belong 10 different political d
'arties. or who shall not POSSESS the I
Dove qualifications. Should any Judge d
u election fail to attend at any place of I
'oting Tor one hour after the time pre- n
eribed by law for opening the polls at "a
hch election, IL shall be lawful for the {
ndge or judges In attendance 10 select o
rom the by-standers one or more per Z
ons possessing the qualification of Judges "
4 election, who shall act as Judge or q
uoses OF such election, and who shall | s.
ave all the powers and authority of a
ldses appointed by said electoral board: 3
roVided' however, that II the Judge or g
ldges present have information that the y
bsent judge or judges viii not attend II
e on they need not wait for the oxpira- ( u
ION OF an hour or any other time Should -
II the judges appointed for any VI
lace of voting fail 10 attend m H. ~
lace Of voting for one hour after IN %
me prescribed by law for opepinp ,bI u
silS AT such election, II shall be the ,utv ~
any justice OF the district In which az
- election Is held who shall be apniied W
Tor that purpose, or the Mayor. n the Va
lection Is In any election district in y go
'wn or city, TO appoint three Judges os ~
lection Tor such election district who Is
nail possess the same qualifications ana
avg tne same powers az judges appoint
= py an electoral board Sho,Id no
idges OF election be appointed far no d,
punty city or place of voting tberainS co
u appointed. they neglect or ref,se 80 cal
9 ior one hour after the time prescrthe9 nj
Jaw Tor opening the polls at such eIcc' na
aus n' shah be lawful for any three ira
lalhed voters Of the district. who sha,1 ha
present and willing TO act. mon toi,,al
= oeth prescribed for judges of eInN.
1n 10 proceed 10 hold. conduct ana r
tiliy the election in the manner nr " or
ded IN this chapter, and for that pur. ar