The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-11-04
8 GEORGES ENOUIRER-UPPEK MAkLBOKO|
ONS TO CHALLEN =
ND WATCHERS.

will enable them to see each person as he
offers to vote; such position is to be out
side the rail in the Election room during
the time of holding the Election, to wit
from six o'clock in the morning until five
O'Clock in the afternoon, in the City of
Baltimore, and from eight o'clock in the
morning until six o'clock IN the afternoon,
in the several Counties.
After the voting shall be concluded, the
Challengers and Watchers are entitled to
be admitted inside of the railing until the
returns are completed.
The Challengers and Watchers are not
permitted to inquire or ascertain for what
candidate or candidates any voter may in
tend to vote, or has voted, OF confer IN the
polling room with any voter, or assist him
in the preparation of his ballot.
Before any ballots are received by the
Judges the Challengers and Watchers are
entitled to examine the ballot boxes and
every part thereof, so as to be satisfied as
to the structure thereof, and that the bal
lot box is empty.
They shall carefully see that the ballot
box, after having been so inspected, is
locked and the key delivered to one ofthe
judges, and they shall carefully watch the
ballot box and see that it is not opened,
after having been once locked, until the
closing of the polls; and they shall see
that it is kept constantly in their sight
from the opening of the polls in the morn
ing, until their close in the afternoon.
They shall also carefully see that the
sealed package of ballots shall not be
opened until after the ballot box shall have
been examined, closed and locked by the
Judges.
They shall be careful not to interfere
with any of the Election officials in the
discharge of their duties.
Being admitted into the polling room
for the purpose of challenging the vote of
any person who may offer to vote, and
who they shall believe is not entitled to
vote, it shall be their right and duty, and
they are instructed to object to the vote of
every person offering to vote, who they
shall have Just reason to believe is not en-
titled to vote; and they shall carefully alb
stain from challenging or Directing to the
vote of any person who is lawfully en-
titled to vote, and who being duly regis
tered shall present himself in the polling
room for that purpose; and it is their right
and duty to call the attention of the Judges
of Election to any violation of law or
dereliction Of duty on the part of the
Election officials.
While the vote is being counted, the
Challengers and Watchers are entitled to
be present inside the guard rail, and so
near, that they can see that the Judges and
Clerks are faithfully performing their
duties
Before the ballot box shall be opened
after the closing of the polls, it shall be
their duty to see that all the coupons taken
from the ballots cast shall be destroyed,
and that each of the Election Clerks shall
Immediately under the name of the last
voter, and that the Judges shall write in
ink the word mo- opposite to the name of
every person on the registration books
who shall not appear, by the word voted
opposite his name on such book, to have
voted.
And they shall also see after the closing
of the polls and before the ballot box is
hat Tn Clo1 ha
registers, make them agree. and ascertain
the humber of persons who by said regis
tiers are shown to have voted and that the
Judges, after they have made such com
parison and ascertaincd the number of
persons who have voted, shall announce
the same i'll an audible voice.
They shall carefully watch the counting
of the ballots, and see that they are ex-
amined and counted, as directed in Sec
ton sc Of the Election laws passed at the
Session of 1896, Chapter 202.
The Challengers and Watchers are en-
titled to demand of the Judges, and each
of them, to exhibit to them any ballot
partly opened, or in such condition and
manner that the same may be fully read
and examined by them, but they are not
entitled to take any ballot into their own
hands.
They shall see after the completion Of
the canvass Of the ballots, that the Clerk
shall announce to the Judges the total
number of votes received by each candi-
date, and that each of the Judges in turn
shall proclaim in IL loud voice the total
number of votes received by each person
voted for, and they shall make at once a
memorandum in writing of the result of
the canvass of the ballots as thus pro-
claimed by the Clerk and by each of the
Judges.
Should any of the Cballengers and
Watchers desire to absent himself from
the polling room during the holding of the
Election, he shall, before doing SO, call in
substitute or alternate duly appointed to
take his place during his absence, said sub
stitute or alternate having first presented
his credentials, showing his desi gnation to
act as such.
The Challengers and Watchers shall lie
especlaily calelul 10 conduct themselves
with decorum, and to abstain from all I'M
seemly conversation and behavior, bear
ing in mind that they are entitled to be
present as Challengers and Watchers to
observe the conduct of the Election, to
challenge all Illegal and questionable
votes, but not to take upon themselves the
conduct of the Election or the counting
of the votes, or the public proclaiming in
the Election room the result of the canvass
of the ballots.