Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-03-27
THE SUFFRAGE
PLAN REVIVED.
The Elective Franchise and Method
Of Voting
INTRODUCED BY Mr.. A. P. GILLESPIE
Something Which Should Interest All the
Citizens and Voters of This
Commonwealth.
INTRODUCED BY Mr.. A. P. GILLESPIE,

or town in which he shall offer to vote
three months next preceding any election,
shall be entitled to vote for members u
the General ssembIy and all officers
elected by the people provided, that no
officer, soldier, seaman, or marine-of the
United States army or navy shall be con-
sidered resident Of this State by reason
of being stationed therein: and provided,
also, that the following persons shall be
excluded from voting:
First. Idiots and lunatics.
Second. Persons convicted of bribery
in any election, embezzlement OF pubiic
funds, treason, felony, or petit larceny
Third. No person who, while a citizen
of this State, has, since the adoption of
this Constitution, fought duel with
deadly weapon, sent or accepted a chal'
lenge to fight duel with deadly weapon
either within or beyond the boundaries oil
this State. or knowingly conveyed chal
lenge or aided or assisted in any manner
in fighting duel, shall be allowed to vote
or hold any Office Of honor, profit, or trust
under this Constitution.
Section 2. All elections by the people
shall be by ballot, and all elections by the
representative bodies shall be viva voce.
The ballot box shalI, during all elections,
be kept in view,of the voters, and the
ballots shall not be canvassed Or counted
in secret.
Sec. 8. Every voter shall prepare his
own ballot. write his name on the back OF
same, and deposit it i'll the ballot-box
without assistance from anyone, except
that all persons entitled to vote at the
time Of the adoption of this Constitution,
and vOters physically unable to prepare
their ballots, may receive aid in preparing
and deposiiing their ballots by person oi
their own selection in the presence of the
judges OF election.
The ballot shall be prepared by mark
ing off or erasing Gom the ballot tie
names Of all the candidates except the
candidate for which the voter desires TO
vote: but if the voter does not desire TO
vote for any Of the candidates whose
names are printed on the ballot, then he
shall be allowed to mark of the names
of all the candidates whose names are
printednhereon, and write on the ballot
the name of the person for whom he de
sires to vote.
When voter receives aid in the prepara-
lion of his ballot, then his name shall be
written thereon by the person selected to
give him aid, and witnesedsby such per-
son signing his name on the back of the
ballot as witness.
Sec. 4. 1t shall not be lawful for any
officer conducting the election to disclose
how any eleclor voted, except in cases OF
rontested elections. and the General AS
Assembly shall provide sby law for the
punishment by fine and imprisonment OF
any election officer disclosing how an
elector has voted, except ill cases Of con-
tested elections. But The elector himself
shall have the right 10 declare bow he
votediand to vote an open ballot IN the
presence of any or all Of the officers Of
ELECTION.
Sec. 5. Any person who intends to be
candidate for any Office, State or nation
al, to be elected by the electors Of the
State at large, or of district composed o
different counties and cities Of the State
shall, at least twenty days before sucf
elections, notify the Secretary of the Com
4 monwealth of such intention, and it shal
be the duty of the Secretary of the Com
monwealth to at once notify the sherlH
of the different counties and the sergeant
of the different cities Of the Common
wealth, or of the district where the eIec
ton is to be held of the intention of suct
person to be candidate; and any persor
! EntendingIto be candidate for any offic'
bot embraced in the foregoing shall give
potice at least twenty days before thu
lection to the sheriff of the county o.
ergeant of the city where the election
be held, of such intention.
Il At least fifteen days before the election
II e sheriff of the county o
geant of the city where th
,ction is to be held shall cause the ballot
the election to be plainly printed ol
lie paper in the English 'laDguage, ant
each ballot shall he printei in blacl
the names of the different offices to b
ed for, and Immediately under tn
he of each Office shall be printed tn
les of all candidates for such Office, Il
order in which they have given motto
&eirFcanddacy. The name of eacl
idate shall be printed IN separate
and the type used in printing sal,
|tsIshall.bel plain Roman- type. no
j er tbantype KNOWN as plea. To
$50 printed shalibe known as OH
alIots, and there.shalls be 'pririted
Isr of ballots equal to twice the en-
kgistered vote of said county or city
sheriff of the county or sergeant c
ly,shall in person or by deputy dii
said ballots among the diheren
pts of the county or city by deliver
each. precinct of bis city or county
pf the officers appointed to hol
|tion at.,such precinct, twice
allols as there are registere
/ the precinct. On The back AN
pf the official ballot shall be print
ords "oficial ballot" fOlowe'
date of the election and ia
lie signature of the sheriff 0
eho had tane printed.
II shall also be the duty Of To
zach counfy'snd- the sergeant o