The news & observer., 1901-01-16

System do hereby recommend the pas
sage of the attached bill. This January
7th, 1901.
T. w. MASON,
THOS. ]. JARVIS,
C. B. WATSON,
j. S. MANNING
HERIOT CLARKSON.
An Act to Protect Primary Elections and
Conventions of Political Parties and to
Punish Frauds Committed Thereat and
to Provide for Party Registration of
Voters in Cities of 5000 inhabitants and
over:
The General Assembly of North Carolina
do enact:
Section /. That every political primary
election held by any political party. or
ganization, or association for the purpose
of choosing candidates for office instruct
ing candidates or the election of dele
gates to conventions, county or city ex-
ecutiye committees, or for other purposes,
shall be presided over and conducted
i'll the manner prescribed by the rules of
the political party, organization, or asso-
citation holding such primary election by
managers selected in the manner pre-
Scribed by such rules Such managers
shall, before entering upon the discharge
of their duties, each take and subscribe
an oath that he will fairly, impartially,
and honestly conduct the same according
to the provisions of this Act and the
rules of such party, organization, or as
sociatioD. Should one or more of the
| hangers appointed TO hold such election
fail to appear on the day of election the
remaining manager or managers shall
i appoint others in their stead and admin
IT, 4
| The managers shall take the oath herein
| prescribed before a notary public or 9TH
| s- officer authorized to administer oaths;
| but if no such officer can be conveniently
| had the managers may administer the
| oath to each other. Such oaths shall,
after being subscribed by the managers,
| be filed in the office of Clerk of the Su-
| perior Court of the county in which such
election shall be held within five days
| after such election
| Section 2. Before any ballots are re-
| ceived at such election, and Immediately
| before opening the polls such managers
| shall open each ballot box to be used in
| such election, and exhibit the same pub
| licly. to show that there are no ballots
| in such box. They then shall close and
| lock or seal up such box. except the
| opening to receive the ballots. and shall
| not again open the same until the close
| of the election. They shall keep poll
| list with the name of each voter voting
| in such elections, and shall before re-
| ceiving any ballot administer to the voter
| an oath thaI he is duly qualified to vote
| according TO the rules of the party, and
| that he has not voted before in such cleo
| ticn and will abide by the result of the
| primaries, and at the close of the cleo
| tion they shall proceed publicly to count
| the votes and declare the result, they
| shall certify the result of such election,
| and transmit such certificate, with the
| poll list, ballots, and all other papers
relating to such election, within the time
prescribed and to the person or persons
designated by the rules of the party, or
| ganization, or association holding such
| election.
Section g. Every such primary election
| shall be held at the time and place, and
| under the regulations prescribed by the
| rules of the party organization, or asso-
| citation holding the same, and the returns
| shall be made and the result declared as
prescribed by such rules, but the returns
| of the manager with the poll lists, shall
| be filed in the office of the Clerk of the
| Superior Court for the county in which
| such election is held, within four days
after the final declaration of the result
| thereof and shall remain there for public
1 inspection
| Section 4. Any manager who shall be
| guilty of wilfully violating any of the
| duties devolved upon such position here
| under shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
| and upon conviction thereof shall be pun
| shed by fine not to exceed one hundred
| dollars or Imprisonment not to exceed
| six months; and any manager who shall
| De guilty of fraud or corruption in the
| management of such election shall be
| guilty of a misdemeauor, and upon con-
I giction thereof shall be fined in sum
| not to exceed five hundred dollars or i'm
| jrisonment for a term not to exceed
| .welve months, or both, in the discre-
| lion of the Court.
| Section ). Any voter who shall swear
| falsely in taking the prescribed oath, or
| shall personate another person and take
| ne oath in his name, in order to vote.
| shall be guilty of perjury, and be pun
| shed upon conviction as for perjury.
| Section g. That in all cities of 5000 in
| 1abitants or over there shall be party
| registration of voters under regulations
| o be prescribed by the rules of the party.
| Section Z. It shall be the duty of ANY
l acrson, who may be appointed by his
| arty. in any capacity, to perform faith
| 'u1ly the duties of such appointment and
1 It shall be the duty Of any delegate in
| any convention assembled for the purpose
| # naming candidates, who are to be voted
| Tor by the people, to faithfully carry out
he choice of his party when ascertained
| and declared as provided for by this
| Act, and any such person or delegate who
| shall fail or refuse TO perform such duty
| shall be guilty of misdemeanor cogni-
| Fable in the county of his residence.
Section S. II any voter having partici-
pated in cne party primary, shall vote
or attempt TO vote in different party
primary election held for similar pur-
| pose, during the same political cam