The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-09

one years of ago, resident citizens
of the District of Columbia, by petit
ton in writing signed in person by
such resident citizens, addressed 10
and filed with the Commissioners Of
the District of Columbia, asking that
an election be held in such District
for the purpose of submitting to the
qualified voters thereof the question
of whether or not the manufacture
and sale of spirituous, vinous, 0r
malt liquors shall be licensed therein,
they shall within thirty days after
the presentation of such petition or
der an election to be held in sucn
District within forty days from the
time of making such order to de-
termine the question of whether or
not the manufacture and sale Of
spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors
shall be licensed in compliance with
existing law, or whether the sale of
spirituous. vinous, or malt liquors
within the District of Columbia
shall be prohibited under the terms
prescribed in this act.
Qualification for Voters.
See. 2. That all persons domiciIed
in the District of Columbia, who are
citizens of the United States, who are
over the age of q years. of sound mind,
and have not been convicted of an
offense involving moral turpitudc,
and who have been so domiciled in
the District Of Columbia and the vot-
ing precinct of their domicile for
more than one year prior to the date
of the holding of said election, wheth-
er they maintain or have maintained
q voting status elsewhere or not, and
who can read and write and who has
paid all taxes and assessments due
from them and unpaid by them to the
Federal Government and the govern
ment of the District of Columbia
shall constitute the qualified voters at
said election. The managers of the
said election shall be the judges of
the qualifications OF the voters
Notice Of Election.
Sec. 3. That notice of such election
shall be published for twenty days pre-
eeding the election in some news
paper published in the said District.
The Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia shall provide for and give
the publication and notice required
in this section, and shall divide the
District of Columbia into conven-
lent precincts and prescribe the vot-
notice of the boundaries of said pre-
cincts and of the voting places at
the time the notice is given of the
holding of said election.
Sec. 4. That the Commissioners Of
the District of Columbia shall, with
in ten days after the election is 50
ordered, appoint three managers, tvo1
clerks. and one returning officer
for each precinct or voting place in
said district to manage, conduct, and
make returns of said election. Such
managers, clerks, and returning offl-
GERS so appointed shall, so far as
practicable, be equally divided be-
tween those who favor and those
who oppose the licensing of the man.
ufacture and sale of said liquors.
Notification of Appointments.
Sec. 8. That as soon as practicable
after the appointment OF such man.
ayers, clerks, and returning officers
for said election the commissioners
shall notify each of them, in writ
ing, of, his appointment. Before
opening the polls the managers
clerks, and returning officers ap-
pointed to conduct the election shall
take an oath to support the Constitu-
ton of the United States and to faith
fully perform their duties as officers
of the election.
Question Mt Issue.
Sec. 6. That in the elections author
ICED under this act, submitting the
question of licensing the manufacture
and sale of liquors, the issue shall
be, first, whether or not such manu-
facture and sale be permitted under
existing law, or, second, whether
such manufacture and sale Of said
liquors shall be prohibited under the
terms prescribed in this act. The bal
lot issued in said election shall have
printed thereon such phraseology as
will enable each voter to express in
diligently and clearly his or he-
choice on the issue to be voted upon
by making a cross mark opposite TO
certain of the phrases SO printed on
the ballot, and the choice of the voter
shall be so expressed. No ballot or
vote shall be rejected or the count
thereof refused for any failure TO
comply with this section, IL the ballot
clearly shows or indicates the choice
OF the yoter as to such of the issues
submitted in the election as he or
she attempts to vote upon. The pur-
pose hereof is to provide for the de-
termination OF the issues indicated
by a majority vote at the elections
hereby authorized, and not to deprive
any voter of his or her vote merely |
because of any technical inaccuracy |
or informality in his or her ballot
Preparation of Ballots.
Sec. Z. That the Commissioners
shall prepare and provide the neces-
sary ballots, poll list, tally sheets, re-
turn sheets, instructions for holding |
the election, ballot boxes, voting |
booths, and other stationery or ma
terial necessary for the proper hold
ing OF the election, and the Commits
sioners shall see that the SAME are
delivered to one of the managers OF
each election precinct or voting place
before the day of election. The Com
of the District of Column
bla are authorized and directed to APP
point a registrar, or registrars in
each precinct, whose duty IL shall be
20 register the qualified voters OF said
precincts at such time and place, and
in such manner as may be prescribed
by the Commissioners of the District
Of Columbia, and the said Commits
sioners are hereby authorized TO
make such other rules and regula-
tions and issue such orders as may
be necessary in their discretion for
the management of and the fair and
orderly conduct OF the said election;
and shall order that all haFR Sa.