Year: 1868

ifeation Of any applicant, they may examine


him under oath, or hear evidence, and for these


purposes any one OF their number shall have


power TO administer oaths TO the applicant or


10 witnesses, who may be produced for or


against his claim, and any one swear ne falsely


in relation TO the claim of an applicaErt shall


be guilty OF perjury, and be subject 10 all the


pt naluss therefor; and when the enrolment OF


any ward is completed, not less than ffty


printed copies thereof shall be posted IN


In as many public places in such ward; and


Tor nve days prior 10 the I've days immediately


preceding each annual election, the iudgss


sh;sll be in open session in the city, at which


time they shall correct the list Of voters pre-


ylously enrolled by adding thereto the names


OF qualified electors who, in consequence of


absence from the city or si.knesS, were unable


10 appear before them at their first or ward


meetings, and by transferring the names of


persons who may have changed their resi-


dences after such ward meetings or enroll


ments, to the wards in which they nav reside


al the time Of such open session: PrOrided,


mat w wheneNer any elector Is unable to attend


either OF the sessions OF the Judges on account


of sickness, they may enroll his name without


his appearing before them upon bring furnished


with satisfactory evidence Of the fact of


such sickness and of the qualifications of such


person ak an elector. And on enrolling, at any


OF their sessions, the name of any person or


transferring II from the list of one ward 10 that


OF another, o certificate of enrolment. or of


transfer, shall be furnished the elpctor num-


beied SO as to correspond with the entry Of his


name on the list of voters, signed by the presi-


dent OF the board of Judges and the clerks there


OF, and be preserved by him, and on or before


each annual election, a list Of voters of each


ward or precinct, certified by the Judges, shall


be- placed by them in the hands of the commits


sioners OF elections Of the respective wards,


and the original lists of voters signed by the
Judges and clerks shall be retained and careful


ly preserved by the President of the beard


And on the day Of each annual or special cleo


tlon, the 1ucges, or a ma Iority thereof with the


clerks, shall be In session AZ the city hall be-


tween the hours OF nine O'Clock an e. meridiern


and seven O'Clock poet meridiem. for the pur-


pose of furnishing such Information or certi6-


cafes as the commissioners Of election of any


ward or precinct, or a person claiming to be a


voter may be entitled 10, relative TO any alleged


clerical error in his enrolment, or as 20 his


change Of ward res idence during the n We days


Immediately preceding any election. And in


the event OF q special election the Judges shall


furnish copies OF such original lists II The com


miss loners of elections, 10 be prepared and GER


nhed IN the same manner as the copies fur


nished at the annual election.


Sec. o. The commissioners of election Of each


precinct or ward, two days prior TO the day of
any annual or special election, shall appoint


two clerks, who, with the commissioners. shall
assemble at the hour of seven o'clock on the


morning Of each day Of the election at the


places in the several wards for holding the
same, and the entire board or majority thereof
after opening the list of voteys furnished by the
judges Of election, shall proceed to receive the


ballots Of any or all persons whose names shall
appear on such lists, and who shall produce
certificates of enrolment as electors, or affida-


Wits OF the loss of such certificates, and deposit
the ballots in the boxes provided for that mar
pose. and one of their number shall write on
posite the name of such elector SO voting the
letter Y; and If the commissioners, or a ma
loriiy of them, shall reject or refuse to receive
the vote Of any person who shall appear upon
The list of voters furnished them by the Judges
of election, and who shall produce a certificate
OF enrolment or an affidavit of its loss. they
shall be liable TO an action of tort, and also to
indictment and conviction for misdemeanor


and 10 fine not exceeding five thousand dol
lars, or TO be imprisoned in the lail OF the
county Of Washington not exceeding thirty
days, or both. at the discretion of the court


And the commissioners shall also be liable 10 a
like conviction and penalty If they receive a


vote OF any person whose name shall not be- on
the list Of veters furnished them and who shall
not produce to hem a certificate Of enrolment,
or in case such ceruhcate NAV have been lost
or destroyed, an affidavit setting forth the fact
that The elector is the identical person who was
registered, and that he had such certificate. and
also of its loss or destruction, and in all cases
of production Of affidavits, in addition TO the
letter V, the commissioners shall write oppo-
site the name of the voter the letter A. and Shall
retain the affidavit to be filed in the Office OF The
city register, but certificates after being in
spected BY the commissioners shall BE- returned
TO the electors. And the commissioners shall
not allow or receive any challenge or objection
against any person claiming the right to vote a.
any OF the elections OF the city, nor permit any
interference with the reception Of votes BY any
person whatever, nor shall they allow any per =
son TO enter or remain in the places for holding
any election, except two clerks, who, under
heir directions, shall write the names of per-
sons who may deposit their votes nth the COM
missioners, and assistin making out the returns
OF VOTES polled at each ward or precinct and
! he commissioners shall keep the polls open in
post meridiem, at which time they shall
cease TO receive votes and immediately
proceed to take from the ballot boxes
me tickets therein, and count the same
setting down opposite the name Of each candi-
date the number OF votes polled for him. and
after so doing shall return the tickets 10 the
ballot box and carefully seal the same, and i'm
mediately make out a return of the whole num-
Der of votes pollrd for the several candidates
which return shall be certified TO be correct by


he commissioners, and be attested by the
clerks, and thereupon the return shall be sealed


in envelopes directed 10 the register of the city
and on the succeeding day be deposited with
him, and by him produced at a meeting of the
Judges of election and the clerks thereof TO be
held at the city hall on the third day after any
election, general or special. at which meeting
one OF their number shall be selected to preside.
who, IN their presence, shall add together the
votes cast for the several candidates. and make
cut, over their signatures, returns thereof
which shall be placed by the president of the
hoard in the hands OF the register, and by him
be preserved and recorded with the original
returns. And the register shall thereupun
with the mayor of the city, Immediately notify
Zach of the parties Of their election. and deliver
10 such person certificate of his election: and
the sealed ballot boxes with the tickets therein
shall be delivered by the commissions of
election To the register, and remain IN ms Gus
Obs tltCbOu except When
opened in cases of contested elections, or in a
civil or criminal action arising out of the pro-
visions of this charter.


Sec. 3. The judges Of election. The clerks
thereof, the commissioners Of election, and the
clerks thereof, shall take the oath prescribed
by the act entitled IAN act to prescribe an oath
OF office, and for other purposes approved
July second, eighteen hundred and sIYty-two.
TO be taken by the officers of the United States
and also shall swear that they will impartally |
and faithfully perform their several duties,
which oath shall be taken and subscribed be-
fore the clerk Of the supreme court of the Dis.
trict OF Columbia, who shall carefully preserve
the same among the records of his ONCE


Sec. =. Ii any person, directly or-indirectIy |
shall promise, offer, or give, or cause 10 be i
offered, or given, to any eiector any |
bribe, present or reward, or any inducement
OF thing whatsoever, with intent to in n u.nce
or control his vote at any election winch NAV |
hereafter be held an the city of Washington. or |
II any person shall endeavor to inf uence any /
vote by threats or personal violence or of dis /
missal from an y work or employ ment. or by any |
intimidation or artifice whatever, or IL any per-
son shall in any manner or TO any extent coun-
terfeit or initiate any ticket cause TO be imi-
tated or counferfeited AZ ticket certificate of
the Judges Of election furnished to electors with
the intent 10 have the same used at any election
or distribute such ticket or certificate TO any |
voter, or cause the same 10 be used by him or /
if any person shall wilfuily disturb or m nny |
manner interfere with any elector while in the /
act of voting. or while approaching the polIs
or while returning thereform, or while n or |
near the polls, or shall discharge from employ.
ment any elector because of the person for whom
he ma have voted af any elacfaon i, ,ha ,,,- ~.