Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force Jan.[January] 29, 1835.

AN ACT to amend “An act regulating Elections.”
1

County commissioners’ courts of the several counties may divide the counties into election precincts at pleasure.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That the county commissioners’ courts of the several counties in this State, are hereby authorized to divide their respective counties into as many election precincts, for all general and special elections, as they may think expedient for the convenience of the voters of said county, and to appoint as many sets of judges of elections, to receive votes at the county seats, as they may think necessary.2

May appoint constable to attend elections.

His duty.

Compensation.

Acts repealed.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of said court, if they shall think proper3, to appoint some constable to attend each precinct, and preserve order during said elections; and the said constable shall have authority to call to his aid a sufficient number of citizens to suppress any riot, or other disorderly conduct during said election,

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and there shall be paid to said constable, out of the County Treasury, a sum not exceeding one dollar a day for said services. All laws coming within the purview4 of this act, are hereby repealed.

This act to take effect from and after its passage.

Approved, Jan. 29, 1835.

1John D. Hughes introduced HB 31 in the House of Representatives on December 13, 1834. On December 17, the House amended the second section of the bill by adding after the word “court” the words “if they shall think proper.” The House passed the bill as amended. On December 19, the Senate referred the bill to the Committee on Elections. The Committee on Elections reported back the bill on January 22, 1835, with sundry amendments, in which the Senate concurred. On January 23, the Senate further amended the last section of the bill by striking out the word “provisions” and inserting in lieu thereof the word “purview.” The Senate passed the bill as amended. The House concurred in the Senate amendments on January 26. On January 29, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law. Journal of the House of Representatives of the Ninth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December 1, 1834 (Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835), 91, 115, 121, 131, 370, 382, 406, 419, 431; Journal of the Senate, of the Ninth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December 1, 1834 (Vandalia, IL: J. W. Sawyer, 1835), 107, 110, 116, 305, 318-19, 332, 356, 369.

2The active “An Act regulating Elections” was passed on January 3, 1823. It limited the number of precincts in any county to four.
“An Act regulating Elections,” 3 January 1823, Laws Passed by the Third General Assembly of the State of Illinois (1828), 53-68.

3On December 17, 1834, the House of Representatives amended the bill by adding this clause. Journal of the House of Representatives of the Ninth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December 1, 1834 (Vandalia, IL: J. Y. Sawyer, 1835), 131.

4On January 23, 1835, the Senate amended the bill by striking out the word “provisions” and substituting “purview.” Journal of the Senate, of the Ninth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at their First Session, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, December 1, 1834 (Vandalia, IL: J. W. Sawyer, 1835), 318-19.