The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-03-09
THE NEW ELECTION law.

The following is the substance Of
the new election law passed last week
by the Legislature
The new election law is in its main
features a copy Of the law In force pre-.
vious to 1895. The bill PROVIDES:
l. That the election tor State and
county officers shall be held ON the
first Thursday in August and every
two years thereafter.
2. That there shall be State board
OF elections composed of five persons
elected by the Legislature for term
of two years.
3. That there shall be county
board Of elections consisting of three
persons. appointed by the State board
for 4 term of two years.
I. That the State board of elections
shall meet IN Raleigh the first Monday
in May, 1899, and organize by elect. :
one OF their number chairman and
another secretary. Another meeting
shall be held on the first Monday in
April in each election year. Special
meetings may be called when necessary.
For their services the board shall re-
ceive four dollars day and travelling
expenses.
). That the county boards shall ap-
point all registrars and judges of cleo
ton. Members of the county boards
may be removed by the State board ;
and the county board in turn NAV
remove any registrar or Judge of elec-
ton.
6. That county boards must meet
not later than the first Monday in May
for organization, and for dividing the
counties into precincts and fixing poll
ing places.
Z. That before the next general
election there shall be an entirely new
registration. Among questions to be
asked applicant Is 'swhether he has list
ed his poll for taxation for the current
year in which he applies for registration,
and for the year next preceding" And
if any applicant shall falsely swear he
has listed his poll for taxation, he shall
be guilty of perjury and punished as
prescribed by law.
s. That the registration books shall
be kept open for twenty days and closed
on the second Saturday before the cleo
ton. On each Saturday during this
period the registrar shall go to the poll
ing place to register voters. On such
day the books shall be open for inspec-
ton by voters of the precinct. There
shall De no registering On election day,
but voters may be challenged.
8. That on OF before the first Mon
day In July the county board shall ap-
point two judges OF election for each
precinct.
10. That to prevent disorder as many
as three special officers may be appoint
ed by registrars and judges of cleo
tlon.
Ii. That there shall be one ballot
for all State officers, one for justices of
the Supreme court, one for members of
the General Assembly, one for county
officers, and one for township officers.
That all ballots for each of these
classes OF officers shall be the same
SIZE, on white paper and without de-
vice. The Size OF the ballots must be
prescribed by the State board of
elections. Tickets in the wrong box
shall not be counted.
II. That the members of the sew
eral boards of election shall constitute
the board OF county canvassers, which
shall meet at the court house the
second day after the election, canvass
the returns and declare the result at
the court house. door.
The remainder of the act provides
tor canvassing the returns for State
officers, Congressman aud electors, pre-
scribes penalty for non-performance of
the duties prescribed for officers of the
election, and makes other general reg
ulatiOn of elections.