Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 14.djvu/405

 THIRTY—NINTH CONGRESS. Szss. II. Ch. 5, 6. D867. 375 of pre-emption or homestead have attached, or which for any reason were not subject to said grant within the limits designated in said act. Approved, December 26, 1866. CHAP. VI. -An Act M regulate the ekctive Franchise in the District of Columbia. Jammw 8, 1867. Bc it enacted by the Senate and Mme of Representatives of the United ' States of America in Ucngress assembled, That, from and after the Who to be passage of this act, each and every male person, excepting paupers and jggmgjtiggymg persons under guardianship, of the age of twenty-one years andupwards, vote in th., pg,. who has not been convicted of any infamous crime or offence, and except- trjict of C¤l¤¤¤- ing persons who may have voluntarily given aid and comfort to the rebels bm' in the late rebellion, and who shall have been born or naturalized in the United States, and who shall have resided in the said District for the period of one year, and three mouths in the ward or election precinct in which he shall offer to vote, next preceding any election therein, shall be entitled to the elective franchise, and shall be deemed an elector and entitled to vote at any election in said District, without any distinction on account of color or race. Sec. 2. And bs if further enacted, That any person whose duty it shall _ Penal? for be to receive votes at any election within the District of Columbia, who ;‘¥£;l’v;° g:‘;§ shall wilfully refuse to receive, or who shall wilfully reject, the vote of jmgngthé imno; any person entitled to such right under this act, shall be liable to an action 0* ¤¤¤ _¤¤¤*·l°d of tort by the person injured, and shall be liable, on indictment and con- t° '°t°’ viction, if such act was done knowingly, to 0. fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year in the jail of said District, or to both. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall rm- wnruny wilfully interrupt or disturb any such elector in the exercise of such fran- di¤'=¤§¤">i¤&_&°i1 chise, he or they shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on con- 2;c`;Q§;’°Q,·"f,;, ° viction thereoi shall be fined in any sum not to exceed one thousand dol- franchise. laws, or be imprisoned in the jail in said District for a period not to exceed thirty days, or both, at the discretion of the court. Sec. 4. And be itfurzlzer enacted, That it shall be the duty of the sev- Criminsleonm eral courts having criminal jurisdiction in said District to give this act in 2 és2r Qlggf; special charge to the grand jury at the commencement of each term of the Jury_ g court next preceding the holding of any general or city election in said District. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the mayors and aldermen of the Voting lists to cities of Washington and Georgetown, respectively, on or before the first Q; €F°P*~“'°d is day of March, in each year, shall prepare a list of the persons they judge G:s,.£:,€,?Q:.m to be qualified to vote in the several wards of said cities in any election; and said mayors and uldermen shall be in open session to receive evidence of the qualification of persons claiming the right to vote in any election therein, and for correcting said list, on two dnys in each year, not exceeding five days prior to the annual election for the choice of city officers, giving previous notice of the time and place of each session in some newspaper printed in said District. S1-ze. 6. And be it further enacted, That on or before the first day of to_be posted in March the mayors and aldermen of said cities shall post up a list of vo- gzblfayglfgdom ters `thus prepared in one or more public places in said cities, respectively, annual election. at least ten days prior to said annual election. Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That the odioers presiding at any chock.];;", election, shall keep and use the eheck—list herein required at the polls dui-- be 1{Wd ¤l¤ ¤ll ing the election of all onicers, and no vote shall be received unless deliv- $$g°,.';g°i::g ered by the voter in person, and not until the presiding officer has had only, Sm. opportunity to be satisfied of his identity, and shall find his name on the list, and mark it, and ascertain that his vote is single. Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That it is hereby declared unlawful