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1876.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 1339
Third. That the lists of qualified voters as furnished to
the judges of election, and by them used, were not true and
correct lists, but contained many fictitious and fraudulent
names.
Fourth. That the residences of voters was not noted on
said lists.
Fifth. That boxes for rejected ballots were not furnished
and used.
Sixth. That persons legally entitled to witness the count
of the ballots after the close of the polls, and applying for
that privilege, were refused.
Seventh. That packages of tickets were counted as legal,
Eighth. That certificates of the number of votes for each
candidate were not given.
Ninth. That the returns were not written in words at
length.
Tenth. That the poll-books and certificates of the votes
cast were not lodged with the Clerk of the Superior
Court.
It is safe to say, that in almost every precinct in the City
of Baltimore, one or more of these requirements have beeu
disregarded at the last election, which in the express lan-
guage of law above quoted makes the election void.
It cannot be shown that the legal points above taken, are
merely technical. The legislature certainly did not so con-
sider them, or it would not have declared the election ab-
solutely void upon these grounds. And it is not unreasona-
ble to suppose that if the judges and clerks of election had
been more specifically reminded by the proper oath of office of"
their precise duties, they would not have confounded those
duties with or subordinated them to their supposed obliga-
tions, to wit. the election for their party.
But whether technical or not, the force of these points is
undeniable, and there is the less reason to regret the inevita-
ble conclusion forced upon any tribunal that impartially
weighs them, because, even if they did not apply to the late-
election, it would still have to be declared invalid, on the
ground of gross official misconduct and fraud.
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