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Here Are Some Excerpts From the North Carolina State Election Laws
Sec 164. REGULATIONS FOR OPENING POLLS; OATH OF JUDGES
AND REGISTRARS. The judges of election and registrars of each pre
cinct shall meet at the polling places therein at least one-half hour before
the time set for opening polls for each election referred to in this article,
and shall proceed to arrange the space within the enclosures set apart for.
election, and to prepare the booths for the orderly and legal conduct of the ;
election. They shall then and there have the official ballot boxes, herein
preferred to, together with the boxes for ballot stubs and the boxes for.
spoiled ballots as hereinbefore provided the sealed packages of , official
ballots, the registration book, the polling book, and the required supplies.
They shall see that the polling booths are supplied with pencils, or pen and
ink; unlock the official ballot boxes; see that the same are empty; allow
the authorized watchers present and any other electors who may be present
o examine said boxes, and shall lock the same again while empty. After
such official ballot boxes are relocked they shall not be unlocked or open
tantil the closing of the polls; and except as authorized by law no ballot or
other matter shall be placed in such boxes. , Each judge of election an j
registrar shall before the opening of the polls take the following oath: -
"I do solemnly awemx that) I will administer the duties of my office wttbJ
out fear or favor; that I will not in any manner request or seek to persuade
or induce any voter to vote for or against any particular candidate or
proposition, and that I will not keep or make any memorandum of anything
(occurring within the voting booth, except I be called upon to testify in a
judicial proceeding for a violation of the election laws of, this State; so
help me, God." ' , ,
This oath shall be administered at the time hereinbefore prescribed by
the registrar to the two judges of election, and by one of them to the regis
trar. .The same oath shall be taken before the registrar or judge by every,
person Tendering assistance. They, shall then open the 'sealed package of :
ballots, and one of the judges shall make the proclamation that the polls are
open and of the time when they , will be closed. . From the time of opening
of the polls until the announcement of the result of , the canvass of the
rotes after the close of the polls and the signing of the official returns the
official ballot boxes and the other boxes herein provided for and all the
official ballots herein provided for shall be kept within the precinct election
enclosures. - v . ,
Sec 84. PROCEEDINGS WHEN POLLS CLOSE; COUNTING OF BAL
LOTS AFTER A PRIMARY OR AN ELECTION., At the time for closingi
the polls the Registrar shaH announce that the Spoils are closed, but any
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voting enclosure waing to vote, snau aiiowea w :ws.
kCiose.ry;, 5 member of the
Before the counting ol tne Dauota Degins tne.regiswar uu jwviiwj fc unlawful
Htruet all of the ballot counters, clerks and judges on how differently marked
ballots shall be counted and tallied. The counting of the ballots in each box
shall be made in the presence of the election officials, witnesses and. watch
ers who are present and who may desire to watch same. Provided, that in
all primary elections when the counting of the ballots begins after the polls
close, one ballot shall be taken at a time from the ballot box by one of the
election officials named nerein and opened in full view of all of the election
officials and witnesses present, and the name of each candidate voted for
shall be read aloud distinctly. The vote received by each candidate ehall be
tallied on the tally sheet." This same procedure ' for counting the ballots
shall apply to all ballot boxes being counted at the same time in a primary
election. . - " "j m
No ballot shall be counted which is marked contrary to,tew, except that
no ballot shall be rejected for any technical error unles it is Impossibly to
determine the voter's choice. ' ' , - ' ' til
The counting of ballots shall be continuous until completed. Fronfifha
time the ballot box is opened and the count of votes begun, until the votes
tare counted and the returns made out, signed and certified as herein re
quired, and given to the presiding Judge or Registrar for delivery to the
County Board as required herein, the Registrar and Judges of Election in
leach precinct shall not separate, nor shall a Registrar or Judge leave the,
polling place except from unavoidable necessity. In case of illness or un
avoidable necessitythe Board of Elections may substitute another qualified
person for any precinct official so incapacitated. , : ,
See. 126. HOW PRIMARY CONDUCTED; VOTER'S RIGHTS; POLL
ING BOOKS; INFORMATION GIVEN; OBSERVATION ALLOWED.
At the time of voting, the name of the voter shall be entered on a primary
nolliiur book to be provided and kept for the purpose, under rules prescribed .
by the State Board of Elections, which eaid book shall be provided at the
"'expense OX Uie auliC ivr vut. w uuhiqd suns ww-Mwui uu un
said book shall be entered, opposite the name of such voter and in proper
column provided for the purpose, the name of the political party whose -ticket
he shall have voted, and said books shall be filed for safe-keeping --
until the next election, with the chairman of the County Board of Elections.
Sec 171. BALLOTS NOT TAKEN FROM POLLS; OTHER BALLOTS
FOR SPOILED. BALLOTS; DELIVERY TO COUNTY BOARD OF ELEC
TIONS. No person ehall take or remove any ballots from the polling place
before the close of the polls. If any voter spoils a ballot, he may succes
sively obtain others, one at a time, not exceeding three in all, upon return
ing each spoiled one to the registrar, and .the registrar shall deposit said
spoiled ballot in the box kept for the purpose by him. Within three days
after each election or primary the registrar of each precinct shall deliver,
to the county board of elections in an envelope to be furnished by the
county board of elections for such purpose the spoiled ballots so deposited
at such precinct, and shall at the same .time in another envelope furnished
(for such purpose, deliver to the said county board of elections the unused
ballots from said precinct The county board of elections shall thereupon
make a check to ascertain whether the total of such Spoiled ballots and
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precinct shall equal the total number of. ballots furnished to the registrar
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Sec 174, ASSISTANCE TO ILLITERATE OR DISABLED VOTER IN '
PRIMARY. Any qualified voter entitled to vote in any primary, but who
by reason of any physical disability or illiteracy Is unable to mark his
ballot may upon statement to the registrar of his incapacity and upon his
reanest be aided' bv a near relative husband or wife, brother or sister) ;
parent or child, grandparents or grandchild), who shall be admitted to the '
booth with such voter, or if no near relative is present such voter may call ,
to his assistance anv other Voter of bis nrecinct who has not Riven aid to
another voter,? ana who shall likewise be admitted to the Dootn witn sucn
voter; Prodded, that if the voter needs and is entitled to the assistance as
herein provided for, and there is no near relative present, or anyone else u
authorized hereunder to give assistance, the voter may call to his as
sistance the registrar or one ol the judges oi election: nrovwea, iunner
may- upon his request be accompanied- into- the voting bootn ,
relative (as above defined), and obtain such assistance from eaid ,
family as he may desire whether disabled or not. It shall
lor any person to give, receive, or permit assistance in me
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provided lor. : s
Sec 182. WATCHERS; CHALLENGERS; COUNTIES EXCEPTED.
Each political party or independent candidate named on the. ballot may, by
writing signed by the county chairman of such political party, or, as the case
may at all times during election day be in plain view of the precinct officials,
judges of election, appoint two watchers, who shall be qualified electors of
the precinct for which they are appointed, to attend each polling place. Such
watchers shall serve also as challengers; Provided, that no person shall be
appointed as' watcher who is not of good moral character; and the judges '
of election and registrar may for good cause shown reject any appointee and
require that another be appointed. Such official watchers shall have the right
from the time the polls open until the polls close and the counting is com- .
toleted to remain within the voting enclosure, and in a position where they
may at all times during election day be in plain view of the precinct officials,
the voting doouis, tne oauot ooxes ana tne voting proceaure, out snau not
in any manner with the election except as the law provides. Provided, that any
elector when the name of any elector is called by the judges of election,
may exercise the right of challenging the elector's right to vote and When
he or she does so then such challenger may enter the election space to -make
good such challenge and then retire at once when such challenge is
heard..' .v."4- '. !...,":,.'.
If You UlfantT.lore Economical And Efficient County
Government, Vote For Theco Candidates In The
ay 26 Democratic Primary
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Ervin
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Oliver I.IarSin