Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/162

140 If there are four tellers one reads aloud the ballots, handing each one as read to another teller who should represent another of the leading candidates. The other two tellers keep duplicate records on tally sheets as described above, one calling out "tally" whenever making a diagonal line. This serves to show the tellers whether their records agree. If they disagree the count must be made again from the beginning.

The tellers should always credit a ballot to the candidate for whom it was evidently intended though the name may be misspelled or the directions printed on the ballot may not be strictly complied with. If any one of the tellers is in doubt as to crediting a vote the case should be reported to the society and instructions requested. The report in the form shown on page 177 should be signed by all the tellers.

When the tellers' report is prepared, their chairman submits it without announcing any election since this must be done by the presiding officer only.

A distinction should be made between an election in a society which is in session, and an election in a political body where the voters are not assembled. In the latter case it is necessary to deputize some persons to act as judges of election, since it is impracticable for the voters to do this as is done in an ordinary society.

Voting is also done by mail, and by roll-call (yeas and nays). Voting by mail is used in important matters, such as amending by-laws and electing officers,