Year: 1871

The Proposed Act for Placing them Under


the Safeguards OF Law.


The following is a copy of the bill presented
in the State Legislature yesterday by Mr.. Rey-
burn, providing for throwing the restraints of
law around delegate elections in this State. 1t
is based upon the law recently enacted and
found to work exceedingly well in Ohio, and
was framed by committee appointed for the
purpose by the convention recently held in this
city to revise the rules of the Republican
party:-


AN ACT to protect the elections Of voluntary polik-


cal associations, to regulate primary elections,


and to punish frauds therein.


Section 1. In all elections hereafter to be held by
any voluntary political association or party in this
state for any delegates or executive committee, or
for the nomination of candidates for public office,
the persons chosen to hold such elections, as judges
and inspectors or clerks and OceTs, or any person,
in their absence or refusal to serve, assuming or
chosen in their place. shall first be sworn or affirmed
by some officer authorized to administer oaths, that
they will correctly and faithfully conduct such cleo
tOn, protect it against ali frauds and unfairness,
ana truly canvass all votes cast theTeat


Section q 1t shall be the duty OF the judges OF
qualified eector, TO any vote that may be offered, on
the ground that the person Offering is not entitled
TO vote at said election, or that he has received or
promise, or reward for his vote for any candidate,
or that he has voted before at that place or some
other on that day, in the same electOn and it shall
be tue duty OF the judges OF election, II such obec
ton be not Withdrawn to administer to the person
30 OueIOR 10 vote an Oatl or animation that
he will truly testify to all matters relating to
his said qualification, or receiving, or being
promised, directly or indirectly, any money,
promise, or reward for his vote for any candi-
date, and whether he has voted at that or any
other place on that day at such election. 1t shall
then be the duty Of the judges OF election to nterro
gate the person so objected to, as to all the mat
ters upon which said objection was made, and gene
rally as to his qualifications II the person 80 OBJ
jected to shall refuse to answer such questions,
after said oath or animation shall have been admin
1steTed or shall refuse to take such oath or aiirma-


on 1t shall be the duty OF the judges of election to
reject such vote. But If such vote be taken, and
such questions be answered satsfactOTiiy and not
contradicted successfully by the sworn testimony OF
other Witnesses who may be called, IL snail be the
duty Of the judges OF election to admit the vote,
having the word 'sWorn" noted opposite the partys
name on the poll list.


Section 3. Any officer of said elections, and any
voter thereat, who shall violate any provisions OF
thiS act, and any voter or person who shall offer
receive any money, reward or promise for voting
thereat, and any person wilfulry making false
uon, shall be deemed guilty Of a msdemeanor, and,
on conviction, shall be punished by fine not eX-
ceeding $500, and imprisonment not exceeding one
year, or both.


Section 4. ANY voluntary political association or
party in any city or county may by vote OF the
executive committee thereof, elect to adopt the
provisions OF this act or to submit the question OF
the adoption thereof TO a vote or the members OF
OF the vote Of such executive committee, or OF the
result OF the vote OF the members OF such party,
shall be duly certified ana reeorced IN the proper
office OF the Recorder OF Deeds Of said CT county,
who shall thereupon give notice by publication that
such political association or party has adopted said
act and thenceforth this act and all the provisions
thereof shall have lul power and effect in and upOn
such political association or party in said cityor
county state in the conduct OF elections under the
provisions Of this act.