The present peerage of the United Kingdom

Sheriffs, or other officer to whom a writ is to be sent, holds his office within the cities of London or Westminster, or the borough of Southwark, or within five miles thereof, he is required to forward the particulars of the situation of his office to the messenger of the Great Seal, instead of to the Postmaster-General.

The writs to the Sheriffs and returning officers, having their offices within five miles of London, are delivered thereat by the messenger of the Great Seal. All other writs are taken to the General Post Office, and dispatched by the next post or mail to their several destinations. On delivery, a receipt is taken from the returning officer, which is transmitted to, and registered in London. 53rd George III., cap. 89.

Endorsement of Receipt.

Upon receipt, the returning officer is to endorse upon the back of the writ the day he received the same. 7th & 8th William III., cap. 25.

Proclamation of the Writ.

In Counties, proclamation of a special county court to be holden, is to be made within two days after the receipt of the writ, at the place where the election is to be held, 25th George III., cap. 84; and such county court is to be holden "not later, from the day of making such proclamation, than the TWELFTH day, nor sooner than the SIXTH." 16th & 17th Victoriæ, cap. 68, s. 2.

In Cities, Boroughs, and Universities, in England and Wales, proclamation of the writ must, from the following requirements, be made, at the latest, on the day following its receipt.

Act 16th and 17th Victoriæ, cap. 68, s. 3, enacts, "that in every city or town being a county of itself, and in every borough, town corporate, port, or place, returning or contributing to return a member or members to serve in Parliament in England and Wales, the officer to whom the duty of giving notice for the election of such member or members belongs shall proceed to election within six days after the receipt of the writ or precept, giving THREE clear days notice at least of the day of election, exclusive of the day of proclamation and the day of election."

Form of Notice of Election.

"The Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, 1854," (continued by the 25th & 26th Vict. c. 109), enacts that "Every returning officer to whom the execution of any writ or precept for electing any member or members to serve in Parliament may appertain or belong shall, in lieu of the proclamation or notice of election heretofore used, publish or cause to be published such proclamation or notice of election as is mentioned in Schedule B. to this Act."—i. e.

No. 1.-Proclamation to be used in Counties.

Election of Knight, &c.

THE sheriff of the county of

day

now next ensuing, proceed to the election of a knight or knights, member or members [as the case may be] for the county or division of a county [as the case may be], at which time and place all persons entitled to vote at the said election are requested to give their attendance.

And take notice, That all persons who are guilty of bribery at the said election will, on conviction of such offence, be liable to the

penalties mentioned in that behalf in "The Corrupt Practices Prevention "Act, 1854."

And take notice, That all persons who are guilty of treating or undue influence at the said election will, on conviction of such offence, be liable to the penalties mentioned in that behalf in "The Corrupt "Practices Prevention Act, 1854."

Signature of the proper officer.

No. 2.-Notice of Election in Boroughs.

City or borough of

day of

IN pursuance of a writ received by me

for electing a burgess or burgesses [as the case may be], to serve in Parliament for the city or borough [as the case may be], I do hereby give notice, That I shall proceed to election accordingly on the

o'clock in

give their attendance.

day of

when and where all persons concerned are to

And take notice, That all persons who are guilty of bribery at the said election will, on conviction of such offence, be liable to the penalties mentioned in that behalf in "The Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, "1854."

Signature of the proper officer.

Freedom of Election and Removal of Military.

The Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, or other officer making out any writ for the election of a Member or Members of Parliament, is required, with all convenient speed after making out the said writ, to give notice thereof to the Secretary of War, who shall thereupon give the necessary orders that on the day of nomination and of taking the poll, no soldier -within two miles of any city, borough, town, or place where such nomination or election shall be declared or poll taken-shall be allowed to go out of the barracks or quarters in which he is stationed. 10th & 11th Victoriæ, cap. 21.

The following resolutions are entered on the Journals of the House:"It is a high infringement of the liberties and privileges of the Commons, for any Lord of Parliament, or any Lord-Lieutenant of any county, to concern themselves in the election of members of Parliament." "It is highly criminal in any minister or servant under the Crown, directly or indirectly, to use the powers of office in the election of representatives to serve in Parliament." Resolution 17; Journal 507. Delivery of Register to the Sheriff in Counties, and to the Returning Officer in Boroughs.

The printed book or books, prepared by the Clerk of the Peace and Town Clerk respectively, are, on or before the last day of November in the then current year, to be signed and delivered to the Sheriff of the County, or, in Cities and Boroughs, to the Returning Officer, to be safely kept by him and his successors in office; and "the said printed

book or books, so signed as aforesaid by the Clerk of the Peace or Town Clerk respectively, and given into the custody of the Sheriff of the County, or the Returning Officer of any City or Borough, shall be the register of persons entitled to vote at any election of a Member or Members to serve in Parliament, which shall take place between the last day of November, in the year wherein such register shall have been made, and the first day of December in the succeeding year." 6th Victoriæ, cap. 18, ss. 48 and 49.

Any alteration or correction of the register required to be made by any order of the Court of Common Pleas in Registration Appeal Cases, is to be made by the sheriff or returning officer in the register in his custody, and he is to sign his name against every such alteration or correction. 6 Vic. cap. 18, s. 67.

PROCEEDINGS AT ELECTION.

Nomination and Place of Election.

The day appointed by the returning officer for proceeding to the election is termed the "DAY OF NOMINATION." The place where the nomination or election is required to be held, is as follows:

In Counties, the special county court is to be held at "the most public and usual place of election, where the same has most usually been for forty years last past." 7th & 8th William III., cap. 25, s. 3. The place of election for counties divided, is appointed for each division by the Reform Act, 2nd William IV., cap. 45; and the Boundary Act, 2nd William IV., cap. 64.

In Cities and Boroughs, the usual place is at the Guildhall, Townhall, Market-place, or Cross. A few boroughs have special Acts, regulating the place of election. No election is to be holden in any church, chapel, or place of public worship. 2nd William IV., cap. 45, s. 68.

The proceedings of the nomination are commenced by the returning officer causing proclamation for silence to be made, reading the writ, and taking the oath prescribed by 2nd George II., cap. 24, s. 3. The electors are then called upon to nominate fit and proper persons to be returned, to represent them in Parliament.

The several candidates having been nominated, and having addressed the electors, the returning officer proceeds to determine the election. If only so many candidates are nominated as there are Members to be returned, the return is made forthwith; if more are nominated, the election is determined "by the view," or "by the poll."

Election by the View.

The determination is either by voices or show of hands, or collecting the friends of the respective candidates into separate bodies, or in such other mode as has been customary upon such occasions; the almost universal way now, however, is by the "show of hands," upon which the returning officer declares the names of the candidates upon whom the choice of the majority of the persons present has fallen; and, if a poll is not legally demanded, he forthwith makes a return of the persons so chosen.

Election by the Poll.

If the election is not determined by the view, Lut a poll demanded,

it is taken according to the provisions of the Reform Act and other statutes, and the election properly commences therewith. Notice is forthwith given of the times and places, when and where, the poll will be taken.

In Counties, the poll is to be taken on the next day but two after the nomination, unless such day be a Sunday, and then on the Monday following. 2nd William IV., cap. 45, s. 62.

In Boroughs, the polling is to "commence at eight of the clock in the forenoon of the day next following the day fixed for the election." 5th & 6th William IV., cap. 36, s. 2.

Polling Places, Booths, and Deputy Returning Officers.

COUNTIES.-2nd William IV., cap. 45 and cap. 64. Counties in England and Wales, and their respective ridings, are divided into convenient districts for polling, and in each district a convenient place appointed for taking the poll.

Additional polling places may be appointed, under the provisions of the 6th and 7th William IV., cap. 102, s. 112, and 16th and 17th Victoriæ, cap. 68, ss. 7 & 8.

Act 2nd William IV., cap. 45, s. 64. At every contested election for any county, the sheriff, under-sheriff, or sheriff's deputy, if required by or on behalf of any candidate on the day fixed for the election, or if it shall appear to him expedient, to cause to be erected a reasonable number of booths for taking the poll at the principal place of election, and also at each of the polling places, and cause to be affixed, on the most conspicuous part of each of such booths, the names of the several parishes, townships, and places for which such booth is allotted; and no person to be admitted to vote in respect of any property situate in any parish, &c., except at the booth so allotted; and if no booth shall be so allotted, then at any of the booths for the same district: but in case any parish, &c. shall not be included in any of the districts to be appointed by the Boundary Act, the votes in respect of property situate in any parish, &c. so omitted, to be taken at the principal place of election for the county.

Note.-By Act 6 and 7 Victoriæ, cap. 18, voters resident out of the county or division, or resident in one part of the county and claiming to vote for property in another, may now vote at the most convenient polling place to them, or near to their place of residence, by previously claiming, before the Revising Barrister, according to the form No. 7 or 8, in the Schedule A, of registration forms.

As many polling booths are to be provided at each polling place as will allow one for every 450 electors, who may lawfully vote at such polling place. 6th and 7th William IV., cap. 102, s. 3.

CITIES AND BOROUGHS.-Act 2nd William IV., cap. 45, s. 68. At every contested election for any city or borough in England, except the borough of Monmouth, the returning officer, if required by or on the behalf of any candidate, on the day fixed for the election, or if it shall appear to him expedient to cause to be erected different polling booths for different parishes, districts, or parts of such city or borough which may be situated either in one place or in several places, and to be so divided and allotted

into compartments as to the returning officer shall seem most convenient, so that no greater number than six hundred be required to poll at any one compartment; and the returning officer to appoint a clerk to take the poll at each compartment, and cause to be affixed on the most conspicuous part of each of the said booths, the names of the several parishes, &c. for which such booth is allotted; and no person to be admitted to vote except at the booth allotted for the parish, &c. wherein the property may be situate in respect of which he claims to vote, or wherein his place of abode, as described in the register, may be; but in case no booth be provided for any particular parish, &c. the votes of persons voting in respect of property situate in any parish, &c. so omitted, or having their place of abode therein, and the votes of freemen residing out of the limits of the city or borough, may be taken at any of the said booths; and public notice of the situation, division, and allotment of the different booths to be given two days before the commencement of the poll, by the returning officer; and, in case the booths be situated in different places the returning officer may appoint a deputy to preside at each place.

Not more than 300 electors are to be allotted to poll in each booth or compartment. 5th and 6th William IV., cap. 36, s. 3. sition of a candidate, or his proposer or seconder, upon paying the expenses incident thereto, the booths or compartments are to be so On the requiarranged, that not more than 100 shall be allotted to poll in each; s. 4.

UNIVERSITIES.-Act 16th and 17th Victoriæ, cap. 68, s. 5, enacts, every such Election the Vice Chancellor shall have power to appoint any Number of Polling Places not exceeding Three, in addition to the House of Convocation or Senate House, and to direct at which of such Polling Places the Members of Convocation and of the Senate according to their Colleges shall vote, and also to appoint any Number of Pro Vice Chancellors, any one of whom may receive the Votes and decide upon all Questions during the absence of such Vice Chancellor; and such Vice Chancellor shall have Power to appoint any Number of Poll Clerks and other Officers, by One or more of whom the Votes shall be entered in such Number of Poll Books as shall be judged necessary by such Vice Chancellor."

Poll not to be taken at Public Houses.

Act 16th and 17th Victoriæ, cap. 68, s. 6, enacts, Election for Members of Parliament in England and Wales shall be taken at any Inn, Hotel, Tavern, Public House, or other Premises no Poll at any licensed for the Sale of Beer, Wine, or Spirits, or in any Booth, Hall, Room, or other Place directly communicating therewith, unless by Consent of all the Candidates expressed in Writing."

Certified Copies of the Register of Voters.

The Sheriff, or other Returning Officer, is, before the day fixed for the election, to cause to be made, for the use of each booth or other polling place at such election, a true copy of the register of voters, and, under his hand, certify every such copy to be true. 2nd William IV., cap. 45,

s. 72.

Agents to detect Personation.

Any candidate, previous to the time fixed for taking the poll at an election, may nominate and appoint, in writing, any agent or agents, to

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