|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1892.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 613
Election who was then present concurred. They
then and there refused to receive their ballots,
giving as their reason that they were the official
ballots for another precinct and could not be used
without an alteration, which alteration, in their judg-
ment, would destroy their validity. This announce-
ment was publicly made, whereupon many voters
left, a majority of them being Democrats. Upon this
decision being rendered, the remaining judge of elec-
tion, who was the Republican Judge selected, two of
the by-standers to whom he administered an oath, and
another by-stander who was also sworn to act respec-
tively as judges and ballot clerk, to take the place of
the officials who had refused to hold the election as
aforesaid. The oath administered was not the oath
prescribed by law, nor was it read to them. Now,
here occurs the last act to be considered. This con-
sisted in a change or alteration in the printed and offi-
cial endorsement upon the ballot so as to make it con-
form with the number of the precinct at which it was
to be used. This alteration was made with pen and
ink, by drawing a line through the printed word first,
and writing over it the word second'upon each ballot,
which ballot so altered and changed were received
by the Republican Judge and the two Judges who
had been appointed by him, from all who offered to
vote. The election so held continued until 6 P. M.,
when it was found that 378 of these altered ballots had
been cast. It can be assumed that the average vote of
the contestant was 350, and that of the contestees 28.
The registered vote of St. Leonard's Precinct is 669.
The average majorities of the contestees in the balance
of the county, leaving out St. Leonard's Precinct,
varies between 160 and 171 votes. It mast be borne in
mind that the voting at this precinct did not commence
until 12.30 P. M., or nearly five hours after the time
appointed by law for the election to open. These are
the facts briefly stated.
The Law as Applicable to the Facts.
Were the officers who held the election at the Second
Precinct of the First Election District of Calvert county
properly qualified under the law so to hold an election?
The election laws of this State prescribe the officers who
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
