The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-24

OF the city or town In which they are to
serve. and before entering upon their du-
ties they shall be sworn to the faithful
performance thereof Said clerk shall
cause to be delivered to the moderator OF
the elective meeting at which machines
are TO be used, at least five minutes be-
fore the opening OF the polls. the keys
OF such machines In a sealed envelope
upon which shall be written or printed
the number and location OF the voting
machines. and the numbers registered on
the protective counter. IL any. as report
ed TO the clerk when the machines were
set up and adjusted. Such envelope shall
be opened by the moderator In the pres
ence OF the other election officers and
watchers. and the delivery OF such keys
shall be equivalent to certificate from
such clerk that the machines are ready
for. use. The custody OF such machines
shall remain in said clerk up TO the time
OF the delivery OF the keys thereof to the
moderator. and said clerk shall be held
fully responsible for any damage or In
jury TO any machine while II In In his
custody, and for failure TO have any ma
chine ready for use at the time OF the
opening OF the polls. The duties imposed
by this section upon town clerks shall In
the city OF Providence be performed by
the board OF canvassers and registration.
chimes are 10 be used shall be equipped
by the officers now required by law To
furnish and equip such voting places,
with a guard-rail having one place for
entrance and another place for exit, and
said rail shall be so placed that only
persons admitted inside said rail can ap-
proach within five feet OF any machine
Any person. desiring 10 vote shall give
his name and. IL requested so TO do, his
Gf6 ~ ~ hA shn
shall thereupon announce the same In a
loud and distinct voice. clear and audible.
and IL such name Is found upon the vot-
ing-list the supervisor in charge OF the
voting-list shall repeat the said name In
the same manner and the voter shall be
allowed TO enter the space enclosed by
the guard-rail, and his name shall at
once be checked upon the supervisors ;
list. The moderator shall thereupon di
rect said voter 10 the machine he shall
use. and said voter shall at once enter
said machine. and shall vote by means Of
the devices. and having voted ne shall
leave the machine and proceed TO the
desk OF the clerk near the exit from the
enclosure. He shall then give his name
and. II requested so 10 do. his residence
10 the clerk, who shall check his name
upon the voting-list. and he shall leave
the enclosure without delay. No voter
shall remain within a machine longer
than one minute, and II he shall refuse
TO leave II after the lapse OF one min
ute he may be removed therefrom by or
der OF the moderator. Besides the cleo
tion officers, not more than two voters
In excess OF the number OF machines shall
be allowed within said enclosed space at
one time. In case any voter after enter
ing the machine shall ask for further In
structions concerning the manner OF vot-
ing. the moderator shall appoint two su-
pervisors. who shall give such instruc-
ton to him. and after receiving such in
struction such voter shall vote as In the
case OF an unassisted voter. Any voter
who declares TO the moderator that on
account OF blindness or other physical
disability he can not use the machine.
shall. by direction OF the moderator. re-
ceive the assistance OF two supervisors,
who I'm the presence of such voter and In
the presence of each other shall register
his vote upon the machine for the candi-
dates OF his choice. In every case where
supervisors are directed by the moderator
to assist or instruct a voter one OF such
supervisors shall be a Republican and
the other a Democrat. No election officer
assisting or instructing voter shall In
any manner request. suggest, or seek TO
persuade OF induce any such voter 70
vote for a particular candidate or for or
against any particular question. nor shall
any such election officer give any infor-
nation whatsoever in regard to the man.
ner in which such voter shall vote.
Sec 49, The moderator upon receipt or
the keys Of the machines at the voting
place, before the opening of the polls.
shall I'm company with the clerk, super
visors, and party watchers. and before
the opening OF the polls. unlock the coun-
ter compartment OF each machine ana
carefully examine each counter and sat
isfy himself that no vote Is registered
thereon for any candidate or question
He shall also examine the face-plate or
each machine and see that It
is arranged in accordance with the
sample ballot and shall satisfy HIM
self. so far as he may do so with
out operating any machine. that each
machine is in good order and ready for
the use OF the voters. He shall thereupon
close and lock the counter compartment
chine for voting and declare the polls
open. During the time that the polls are
open and until the machines are finally
locked and sealed and the keys thereon
sealed UP for transmission to the. town
clerk. as hereinafter provided, such ma
chimes shall remain in the care and Gus
tody Of the moderator. who shall see that
thereon are not defaced or injured by
any voter or any other person. During
the entire time in which the polls are
open for voting the doors OF the counter
compartment shall be kept closed and
locked. and the counters kept concealed.
except that, IL a machine shall become
out OF order. the moderator may have
such machine opened for the purpose OF
making necessary repairs thereon: Pro-
vided. however, that whenever such ma :
chine IL opened for such purpose note
thereof shall be made on the return
sheet by the moderator and clerk, stat
ing the time when said machine was
opened, the length Of time II was open
ed and the probable trouble. II at any
time after the polls are opened the vot-
ing is interrupted, by trouble with the
machine. for more than five minutes, a
report of such interruption and the prob
able cause thereof shall be made by the
moderator and clerk with the returns. In
case any machine, during the time the
polls are opened. becomes injured so as
to render Il imperative. in whole or In
part. IL shall be the duty OF the moder
ator 10 Immediately notify the town
clerk or. II in the city OF Providence. the
board Of canvassers and registration. and
such clerk or board shall at once suheti-
tute another machine for the injured ma =
chine. and at the close of the polls the
records OF both machines shall be taken.
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