Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-05-29


gress, electors OF President and vice-Presi-
dent of the United States, and for county off,
GERS, within three days next succeeding any
meeting for .heir election, or shall deposit
them, postpaid. In some postofice, directed
10 the secretary Of State, within twenty-four
hours after such meeting, to be transmitted
by mail; and shall also forward to such Office,
rs soon as practicable, q statement attested
by him OF the number OF votes for said
several officers. given at such election In his
town, which shall be opened and filed by the
secretary, and kept for public examination.
Section .. Within twenty-four hours after
the close Of any election for governor, sena-
tors, representatives to the legislature,
representatives to congress, electors of Presi-
dent and vice-President Of the United States,
and for county officers, the clerk OF each
town shall securely pack in a box or boxes
all ballots given out by him for use at such
election and returned to him under the pro-
visions OF section twenty-five Of chapter six
OF the revised statutes as amended by sec
ton four of this act, without breaking the
seals OF the packages OF ballots so returned to
him, together with an attested copy Of his
record Of the number Of ballots sent by him
to each polling-place, and shall seal each box
In such manner that the same cannot be
opened without breaking the seal, and within
said twenty-four hours shall deliver said box
or boxes so scaled TO some express company
directed to and to be transmitted to the Sec
rotary Of state, Augusta, Maine, express
charges prepaid, and shall take receipt
therefor; or within three days after the close
of such election the clerk OF each town shall
deliver said ballots or boxes so sealed TO the
secretary OF State at his office in Augusta.
The secretary OF state shall preserve for
period of six months all such ballots so re-
eeiyed by him as public record. Any town
clerk who negiects 70 perform the duties inn
posed upon him by this section, and any per-
son who breaks any seal affixed to any pack
age Of ballots or to any box containing pack
ages OF ballots before the same are delived at
the office Of the secretary OF state, shall be-
punished as provided in section two OF this
act.
Section 7. At the expiration OF fourteen
days after any election specified in the pre-
cediEg section, the secretary of State shall
forthwith send messenger to every town
from which returns of votes have not been
received as provided in section hfty-four OF
chapter six of She revised statutes, as
amended by section Eve OF this act, or from
been received as provided In the preceding
section: aud the expense OF each messenger
sha.. be audited and paid. and added to the
next State tax assessed on the town. as pro-
vided in section one hundred twenty-five OF
chapter six of the revised statutes.
Section :. Tue secretary OF STATE shall per-
NIT any candidate or other interested person
20 inspect tue ballots SO returned to him,
In in If
clerk Of his office designated by him, or in
the presence of the teputy secretary of State.
under such reasonable regulations or re-
strietions consistent with the right OF inspec-
tion as viii secure every ballot from loss, in
Jury or change in any repect. After each
inspection the packages shall be again sealed
and the fact and date OF inspection noted on
the package. Whenever required SO to do,
the secretary Of State or the deputy secretary
Of State shall produce any package OF ballots
council. the legislature or either branch
thereof, or any committee thereof or before
any court or magistrate having jurisdiction
Of any proceeding relating to said election.
Section 3. The secretary Of State shall at
the ex peuse OF the state. provide and season.
ably send to the several city, town and plan
tatiou clerks suitable seals for use as re-
quired oy the provisions of this act, and
printed forms OF endorsements, and suitable
blanks for all certificates, copies OF records
and returns required to be made to his office,
by this act; and shall also prepare and send
in the same package with said seals letter
OF instructions especially calling the attention
OF each clerk to the provisions of sections
two, three, four and six OF this act.
Aa~gtar Sertfau Of ha e p
six Of the revised statutes is hereby amended
By inserting after the word council" In the
thirteenth line thereof, the following para
graph
upon written application filed with the
secretary of stats within twenty days after
the returns are opened and tabuiated, alleg-
ing that the return or record OF the vote cast
in any town does not correctly state the vote
as actually cast in such town, and specifying
the officers as to when such errors are be-
iieyed 10 have occurred, the governor and
council in open meeting shall examine the
ballots cast In said town and returned to the
secretary OF State, and II such return or re-
cofd is found to be erroneous the return
shall be corrected in accordance with the
number OF ballots found to have been actu-
ally cast In said town; but no such examina-
tiun OF tine 0a4tVtA hAAli bt hhhAN HAbh1At
reasonable notice to all candidates for the
offices specified in the application as to which
such errors are alleged to have occurred,
stating when and where such examination
will be made and affording such candidates n
reasonable opportunity to be present, in per-
son or by counsel, at such examination and
be heard in relation thereto" so that said Sec
ton as amended shall read as follows;
"section SO. The governor and council by
the hrst day of December in each year in
which an election is held, shall open and
compa re the votes so returned and have the
same tabulated, and may receive testimony
on oath to prove that the return from any
town does not agree with the record of the
vote OF such town in the number of votes, or
the names OF the persons voted for, and to
prove which of them is correct; and the re-
turn. when found erroneous, may be cor
rected by the record. No such correction
can be made without application within
twenty days after the returns are opened and