Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-06
CANNOT COMBINE
Machinery of Township and
County Elections Must be
Separate, Says Stead
IN SELECTION OF JUDGE
His Opinion is TWO Sets of Clerks ana
Judges Must Act, But Same
Booths May Be Used.

Contrary TO the general impression
throughout the county. the special cleo
ton to be held April for the election
OF a county judge To succeed the late
Judge +. f. Parmenter. will not be
combined with the city and township
elections, except that the same polling
places may be used. The county iudg-
es and clerks of election will officiate
AT the special election, and the judges
and clerks named by the townships
and cities will act in the regular spring
election. Separate poll books and tally
| books will be kept. and those of the
cities and townships will be returned
to the city and town clerks. while
| those of the special county election
will be returned to the county clerk.
In order TO determine this matter,
| States Attorney J. X. Scott at the re-
quest of County Clerk H. B. Hubbard.
has secured an opinion from Attorney
General W. H. Stead, covering the
case fully.
| Can Not BE Combined.
The attorney general in his opinion
writes as follows:
| Not long ago someone IL think it
was representative from your dis
tricD spoke to me about this matter in
the hotel: and my recollection is that
stated to him that | could see no
reason why the election could not be
held on the same day as the township
detection and by the same judges. How
ever. | told him that the states attor-
ney was the legal adviser of the coun-
lty officers and the matter should be
submitted TO him for his advise and
opinion.
After "a careful consideration of the
matter. however. | would state that
do MOI see now the machinery of the
special election to fill the Office OF
county judge and of the township cleo
ton can be combined"
Judges To Act.
Regarding the judges who are TO act
at these elections. the opinion states
as follows:
The appointment of election judges
for the purpose of holding township
titOllOIo 10 W VIC plON
of the township organization act. II
the, county board established but one
place for holding general elections. in
a township. then the supervisor. assess
or and collector would be the judges OF
township elections
Section 50 of the General elections
act provides for the appointment OF
| inIoac il, lilo Rnnl. IS1nn 4
county. under township organization
Section 50 of the same chapter pro
vides: The judges SO appointed shall
be and continue judges of all general
and special elections held within thG
Irrespective precincts or districts, until
other judges shall be appointed in like
manner.
The judges so appointed for genera
and special elections would conduct
the. special election for county judge
They@are not necessarily the same
judges who would conduct the town
ship election.
The poll books, tally sheets and bal
lots of a township election are return
, ed to the town clerk. while the POI
DOOkS. Tally SuttlS anu DdllplS vi
,, special election for county judge would
, be returned TO the county clerk.
, Use Same BOOTHS.
In my Judgment, therefore. ii vii
= be necessary for the regularly appoint
: ed judges of general elections to con
, duct the special election for count!
, Judge while the township judges vii
i conduct the township election. Specia
5 poll books, tally sheets and ballot
2 must be used and provided for tn
a special election. The election can b
: held in the same place as the towr
d ship election and the same vOtin
II booths can be used. the only addtio
to the voting place being the separat
set of judges to conduct the electio
e to fill the vacancy in the office {
lie county judge.