CHAPTER IV. ELECTION PRECINCTS. SECTION 1127. Supervisors to establish election precincts. 1128. Boundaries must be defined. 1129. Board may alter, etc., precincts. 1130. Limitations on powers given herein. 1131. Board to designate place in precinct for holding elec tion. 1132. Same. to establish election 1127. The Board of Supervisors of each county Supervisors must establish a convenient number of election cincts therein. pre- precincts. NOTE. The term "precinct" is used instead of the term "district," for the reason that it is most in use in this State. See People vs. Laine, 33 Cal., p. 55. Frequent complaint has been heretofore made that parties take possession of the polling places and thus cut off some of their opponents from voting. The Boards of Supervisors should take notice of the fact and provide an ample number of polling places and precincts, so as to obviate this complaint and allow all a chance to vote. 1128. In the order establishing precincts the Boundaries boundaries thereof must be defined. 1129. The Board may from time to time change the boundaries of, create new, or consolidate established precincts. must be defined. Board may precincts. alter, etc., 1130. The following limitations are imposed upon Limitations the powers given the Supervisors in this Chapter: 1. No precinct must be so established as to embrace more than one township, nor parts of two or more townships, nor in such manner that its exterior limits cross the exterior boundaries of any township, incorporated town, or city, or any ward, district, or other territorial subdivision for which local officers are to be elected, except a school or road district; 2. No precinct must be established, nor must the 32-VOL. I. on powers given herein. Board to designate place in precinct for holding election. Same. boundaries of one already established be altered, within thirty days next preceding a general or judicial election. 1131. The Board must, in its order appointing Boards of Election, designate the house or place within the precinct where the election must be held. 1132. If the Board fails to designate the house or place for holding the election, or if it cannot be held at the house or place designated, the Justices of the Peace residing therein must meet two days before the election, and by an order under their hand (copies of which they must at once post in three public places in the precinct) designate the house or place. NOTE. This section obviates the difficulty which existed in the case of People vs. Laine, 33 Cal., p. 55, except as to posting proclamations. Boards of Election, how appointed. Judges not to be of same political party. CHAPTER V. BOARDS OF ELECTION. SECTION 1142. Boards of Election, how appointed. 1143. Judges not to be of same political party. 1144. Same. 1145. Organization of Boards and general powers of In spectors. 1146. Judges and Clerks may administer oaths. 1147. Clerks. 1148. Board and Clerks to be sworn. 1149. Board to post copies of Great Register. 1142. When an election is ordered, the Board of Supervisors must appoint for each precinct, from the electors thereof, one Inspector and two Judges, who constitute a Board of Election for such precinct. 1143. The Judges appointed must not be members of the same political party. 1144. If the Board fails to appoint the Election Same. Board, or the members appointed do not attend at eight o'clock A. M. on the morning of the election, the electors of the precinct present at that hour may appoint the Board, or supply the place of an absent member thereof. NOTE. It was held not to be such irregularity as to make void the election, for the Judges, instead of the electors, to appoint an Inspector in the place of the on' absent.-Sprague vs. Norway, 31 Cal., p. 173. e zation of Boards and general Inspectors. 1145. The Inspector is Chairman of the Election OrganiBoard, and may: 1. Administer all oaths required in the progress of overstof an election: 2. Appoint Judges and Clerks, if, during the progress of the election, any Judge or Clerk ceases to act. Judges and Clerks may 1146. Any member of the Board, or either Clerk thereof, may administer and certify oaths required to administer be administered during the progress of an election. oaths. 1147. The Board of Election for each precinct Clerks. must, before opening the polls, appoint two persons to act as Clerks of Election. 1148. Before opening the polls, each member of the Board and each Clerk must take and subscribe an oath to faithfully perform the duties imposed upon them by law. Any elector of the township may administer and certify such oath. NOTE.-See Whipley vs. McKune, 12 Cal., p. 352, as to a failure to comply with a similar requirement of the law. 1149. Before opening the polls, the Board must post, in some convenient place easy of access, not less than four printed copies of the Great Register of the county, as last printed. Board and Clerks to be sworn. Board to post copies of Great Register. Copies not to be torn nor defaced 1150. The copies so posted must be maintained during the whole time of voting, and must not in any manner be torn or defaced. NOTE.-One object of the two preceding sections is that every person may have the means of informing himself as to who are on the Register. Another is, that each voter may ascertain the number affixed to his name thereon. By Sec. 1225, post, it is provided that each person, as he offers his ballot, must declare such number. Time of opening CHAPTER VI. OPENING AND CLOSING THE POLLS. SECTION 1160. Time of opening and closing the polls. 1161. Recess. 1162. Ballot box to be exhibited. 1163. Proclamation at opening the polls. 1164. Proclamation at closing the polls. 1160. The polls must be opened at eight o'clock and closing on the morning of election, and except as provided in the next section, must be kept open until sunset. the polls. Recess. Ballot box to be 1161. The Board may close the polls for one hour at any time during the day before three o'clock P. M. 1162. Before receiving any ballots the Board exhibited. must, in the presence of any persons assembled at the polling place, open and exhibit and close the ballot box; and thereafter it must not be removed from the polling place or presence of the bystanders until all the ballots are counted, nor must it be opened until after the polls are finally closed. Proclamation at opening the polls. 1163. Before the Board receive any ballots they must cause it to be proclaimed aloud at the place of election that the polls are open. mation at closing 1164. When the polls are closed that fact must be Proclaproclaimed aloud at the place of election; and after such proclamation no ballots must be received. the polls. CHAPTER VII. POLL LISTS. SECTION 1174. Form of poll lists. 1175. Want of form not to vitiate. poll list. 1174. The following is the form of poll lists to be Form of kept by Boards and Clerks of Election: the POLL LISTS Of the election held in the precinct of in the County of -, on Number and Name of Electors voting. We hereby certify that the number of electors voting at this election amounts to Attest: J. K.} Clerks. A. B. C. D. Board of Election. |