Chapter XXXI. *to punish illegal Voting in the District of Columbia, and for other Purposes.* Feb. 5, 1867. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, * Penalty for knowingly voting, or offering to vote, in the District of Columbia, when not q
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CHAP. XXXI.— An Act *to punish illegal Voting in the District of Columbia, and for other Purposes.* Feb. 5, 1867. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, * Penalty for knowingly voting, or offering to vote, in the District of Columbia, when not qualified; or for procuring registration as a voter;for knowingly voting or attempting to vote in wrong ward or precinct, or more than once at same election, or voting double.
That any person not duly qualified to vote in the District of Columbia, who, knowing that he is not so qualified, shall vote or offer to vote therein, or who shall procure or attempt to procure himself to be registered therein as a voter, shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding six months, and not less than two months. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted, *That if any person, being a qualified voter in said District, shall knowingly vote or attempt to vote in any other ward or election precinct than that in which he shall be lawfully entitled to vote, or shall unlawfully and knowingly vote or attempt to vote more than once, or in more than one ward or election precinct, or shall so vote double therein, he shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding six months and not less than two months, and shall be disqualified from voting thereafter in said District.
Sec. 3. Judges of elections in Washington and Georgetown; their number, appointment, term of office, &c.Voting lists. *And be it further enacted, *That there shall be five judges of elections within and for the city of Washington, and three within and for the city of Georgetown, the same to be appointed by the supreme court of the District of Columbia, who shall hold their offices for two years and until their successors shall be appointed and qualified, and whose duty it shall be, prior to each election, to prepare a list of the persons qualified to vote in the several wards of said cities in any election; and said Sessions for correcting the lists.judges shall be in open session in their respective cities, to receive evidence of the qualifications of persons claiming the right to vote in any election therein, and for correcting said lists, on two days, not exceeding five days prior to each election for the choice of city officers, giving prior notice of the time and place of each session in some newspaper.
Sec. 4. Voting lists to be posted in public places at least ten days before election. *And be it further enacted, *That prior to said election the said judges in the respective cities shall post up a list of voters thus prepared in one or more public places in said cities, and at least ten days prior thereto. Sec. 5. Repealing clause. *And be it further enacted, *That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. Approved, February 5, 1867.