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Description and Holding Information
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House. Comm. on Election Laws. Report, 1840
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House No. 26 On January 25, 1840, a three man committee was directed to study repealing the March 9, 1839 election law. The group reported in
February. The majority report said the election laws were difficult to understand and were the cause of many challenges to the seating of
representatives. In real life, many sections of the law were ignored. It was essential to stop the various practices to determine who voted for whom. An Act
concerning elections, 1840. The Act of March 9, 1839 was repealed. If an assessor deliberately failed to levy a poll tax, thereby disenfranchising a
voter, he would be fined. Anyone who examined a ballot to see how it was voted would be fined. Ballots could only be printed on white paper. Whomever
was checking off names had to have a current list of voters and had to check off every voter who appeared or would be liable to a fine. On P. 10 was
the Minority Report. The minority was in favor of flexible hours for voting as arranged by the local jurisdiction. A voter had to present an unfolded
ballot so only one man, 1 vote, but no one could look at his choice. Minority bill: An Act in addition to an act passed the 9th day of March 1839
entitled An act concerning elections, 1840. Keep the polls open at least an hour in small towns and longer when the local electorate voted to do so.
A voter offering his ballot must be checked off the list, and present an unfolded ballot. Other sections of the previous law were repealed.
(Digitized from a microfilm copy of title originally held by the Massachusetts State Library).
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Title:
Ordered, that messrs. Wheelock, of Warwick, Phillips, of Boston, and Walker, of North Brookfield, be a committee to consider the expediency of repealing the act of March 9, 1839, concerning elections ... report.
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OCLC Number:
1405816547
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Available Volumes
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| Name | Fiche Count | Online | Paper Backup |
| Vol. 1 | | Yes | No |
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