Chairman of the Board of Elections, will administer an oath to each Election Officer as prescribed by law. Thereafter, the conduct of the election falls in its entirety in the hands of the five (5) election officers assigned to each polling place.

There will be five (5) election officers at each polling place-one Judge, two Inspectors and two Clerks.

1. The Judge will be in charge and will make the assignments to the other officers.

2. The one Inspector will have the custody of the District Register and make the entries therein, as required by law. We wish to insist on the election officers that these notations Must be made on the back of the card. The law is specific on this subject. Several election officers at previous elections neglected to make these entries.

3. The other Inspector will have charge of the ballot box and the keeping of the list of voters who have voted. You will be furnished paper clips to make sure the ballots stay folded and the voters should be requested to fasten their ballots.

4. The one Clerk will make the entry on the list of voters to whom ballots were delivered, and must give the first Inspector the "running number" of the elector.

5. The other Clerk will be responsible to deliver the ballot to the elector, always making sure that each elector gets a serviceable, folded ballot. Please make sure that all ballots are folded uniformily.

The Judge is in charge and has the right to assign any Inspector or any Clerk to assist another Election Officer in the performance of his duties.

Section 560 of the Election Code tells exactly what is to be done by the Election officers after the oath above-mentioned has been administered.

They are to open the ballot box and, here I am directing or suggesting that all watchers present and all interested electors be called to inspect the box to satisfy themselves that it is empty. Precisely at 8 o'clock the Judge shall declare the polls open and shall then lock the ballot box in the presence of the onlookers and secure the key. The ballot box is never to be opened during the election. The lock should be placed in a position so that it may be seen at all times by the watchers and every elector present in the room. After the polls have been declared opened, the Judge must open the seals of the packages containing the ballots, etc. A Card of Instructions must then be posted in each booth. Additionally, at least three of the Cards of Instructions and five of the sample ballots must be posted in and around the room (not in the booth), outside of the enclosed space. If any elector asks for a sample ballot or a copy of the Card of Instructions it may be given him, provided sufficient of these items are maintained by the Election Officers to comply with the law during the time the polls are open.

Now, let us deal with voting, as such! First of all, the right of voting may only be my personal attendance, and no unregistered voter shall vote at any election, except, of course, by order of the District Court. We are human and "It is human to err"! If an elector comes to the polls, states his name and a card is not found for him in the register, it may be possible that he has appeared at the wrong polling place, it may be possible that through an error in the Election Office his card was not included or there may be a dozen other reasons-some the fault of the elector or some the fault of the election officials. Please be patient and exercise control! Contact Headquarters! Avoid arguments with anyone!

If the Election Officers are not certain of the identity of an elector desiring to vote, the voter may be required to sign a voter's certificate. These certificates will be furnished you together with the other supplies by the Chairman of the Board. Section 583 and 584 of the Election Code deal with furnishing of ballots; verbal instructions to voters; marking of ballots and delivery of same.

After an elector has been found eligible to vote, and the several entries have been made, a Folded ballot is handed him. All the ballots are to be inspected before they are handed the elector to make sure that they are serviceable and that the signature or facsimile of the signature of the Supervisor of elections is thereon. All the ballots are to be folded uniformly and in an manner so that only the words and figures on the Back of the ballot are visible. After the elector has voted he must refold the ballot in the same manner before it is deposited in the ballot box.

Care must be taken that each elector receives only one ballot. If the elector spoils his ballot, or if same is found to be unserviceable, the elector must return

the ballot to the Officer in charge of the ballots before another one is issued him. He must explain what has happened and the Judge of Elections must keep a record of this in the book provided him for the entry of "Unusual and Important Happenings". A notation must also be made on the "List of Voters To Whom Ballots Were Handed", indicating that this certain individual received additional ballot or ballots, since the Election Officer is responsible for each ballot received from the Chairman of the Board of Elections. The unserviceable and or spoiled ballot returned by the elector must be immediately canceled and at the close of the polls must be enclosed in the envelope provided for this purpose.

The Election Officers may and must give verbal instructions to the voter if the voter requests him so to do.

After the voter has received his ballot he must retire to the voting booth to prepare same.

Section 584 of the Election Code of the Virgin Islands reads as follows:

"(c) At general elections, the elector shall prepare his ballot in the following

manner:

(1) He may vote for the candidates of his choice for each office to be filled according to the number of persons to be voted for by him for each office, by making a crossmark (X) in the square opposite the name of the candidate, or he may insert by writing or pasting, in the blank space provided therefor, any name not already printed on the ballot, and such insertion shall count as a vote without the making of a crossmark (X).

(2) If he desires to vote for every candidate of a political party, he may make a crossmark (X) in the square opposite the name of the political party of his choice in the Party Column on the ballot, and every such crossmark (X) shall be equivalent to and counted as a vote for every candidate of the party so marked whose name appears on the ballot.

(3) If the voter should make a crossmark (X) in the square opposite the name of a candidate of a party and also make a crossmark (X) in the square of the same party in the Party Column, then the crossmark (X) in the Party Column shall be equivalent to and shall be counted as a vote for every candidate of the party so marked.

(4) In any case where an elector has made a crossmark (X) in the square opposite the name of the political party of his choice in the Party Column on the ballot and has also made a crossmark (X) opposite the name or names of a candidate or candidates not nominated by the political party which was so marked in the Party Column, then only the crossmark (X) in the Party Column shall be deemed effective and shall be counted.

(5) If an elector wishes to vote a split ticket, that is, to vote for any combination of candidates from different political parties or political bodies or independent candidates, he shall put a crossmark (X) in each of the squares opposite the names of the candidates for whom he wishes to vote. (6) In any case of doubt or conflict, the marking of the ballot shall be deemed to be valid in such a way that wherever the intention of the voter appears, although the marking may be defective, the ballot shall be deemed to be valid and such intention shall be given effect.

No other person shall be present in a voting booth with an elector unless the voter is unable by reason of physical disability to mark his ballot. The handicapped or disabled voter must so declare under oath that he is disabled and shall then select a person of his choice to assist him. The person selected must be sworn. (Simple oaths will be prepared and furnished you by Election Day).

No elector may remain in a booth for more than five (5) minutes. The Election Officers have the right to remove the elector from the booth, but may grant him a longer period of time than five (5) minutes if no other elector is waiting to vote.

Before leaving the booth the elector shall refold his ballot in the same manner it was folded when it was handed him. He then goes to the Inspector, who is tending the ballot box and this Inspector makes sure that the ballot is properly folded with the markings on the face of the ballot properly concealed. The Inspector also is to make certain that a clip is placed on the ballot so that it remains folded and so that all the ballots may hold in the ballot box provided. The Inspector should not allow the elector to deposit the ballot into the ballot box until his name has been entered on the "List of Voters who Deposited Ballots Into the Ballot Box". It is also imperative that the Inspector makes

certain that no elector leaves the voting enclosure with a ballot, even if same is blank.

Any voter may be challenged by any qualified elector of the district, or by any watcher present at the polling place. Any voter challenged must have this oath administered to him by an election officer:

"I do swear (or affirm) that I am a citizen of the United States, that I am twenty-one years of age, that I have resided in the Virgin Islands one year next preceding this election, and in this Legislative District sixty days next preceding this election, and that I am a qualified elector registered under this name, and that I have not voted before on this day."

If the voter takes this oath, his vote shall be received; if he fails or refuses to take the oath, his vote shall be rejected.

Qualifications of an elector generally are found in Section 261 of the Election Code of the Virgin Islands. This Section reads as follows:

"Except as provided in this chapter, every resident of the Virgin Islands, who is a citizen of the United States, is 21 years of age or over, and is able to read and write, has the right of franchise, and shall be entitled to vote at all elections if he or she has complied with the provisions of this title requiring and regulating the registration of electors."

Section 263 of the said Election Code reads as follows:

"(a) Every person who has been twice convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude shall be debarred from voting for a period of 10 years.

"(b) Every person who has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude shall be debarred from voting for a period of one year following the date of his discharge.

"(c) No inmate of a public or private institution for the insane and no person under the care of a guardian by reason of any mental incapacity shall be entitled to vote."

I invite all the Election Officers but especially the Judges to read and study Chapters 7, 21 and 23 of the Election Code of the Virgin Islands between now and Election Day.

After the polls are closed and the last elector has voted, all the Election Officers shall remain within the enclosed space. Before the ballot box is opened the Election Officers shall count the electors admitted to vote as shown by the District Register and shall check same against the number of electors admitted to vote as shown by the list kept for that purpose, and also check same against the list kept for the Inspector in charge of the ballot box. The result is to be then publicly announced and an entry made on the statement prescribed by Section 625 of the Election Code (a mimeographed copy of this form will be furnised you together with your other supplies). The unused ballots and the unserviceable and spoiled ballots returned by the voters and cancelled during the time that the polls were open are then to be counted and the results announced and noted. The District Registers, the Lists of Voters to Whom Ballots were Delivered and of the Voters Who Deposited Ballots Into the Ballot Box; the unused ballots; the unserviceable, spoiled and cancelled ballots must all be placed in separate packages or envelopes and sealed all before the Ballot Box is opened. We will furnish you with the paper, envelopes, sealing matrial, etc. to comply with the law.

After all of the above mentioned processes are taken care of you are then ready to open the Ballot Box. However, here it is decided that the Election Officers will rest for one (1) hour or until 7:30 for the latest, during which time the Officers must still observe the Ballot Box but which then should be guarded by the Police Officer assigned to the Polling Place.

At 7:30 p.m. the Ballot Box is to be opened and the ballots found therein are to be counted. Public announcements are then made.

The Judge of Elections, under the scrutiny of an Inspector of a different party affiliation, or if preferred the Inspector under the scrutiny of the Judge and in the presence of the other officers and within the hearings and sight of the watchers shall read aloud the names of the candidates marked on or inserted upon each ballot and the other inspector and the two clerks are to carefully enter each vote as read. Tally sheets will be provided you.

No person while handling the ballots shall have in his hand any pencil, pen, stamp or any other means of marking or spoiling any ballot.

All Ballots, after having been removed from the ballot box, shall be kept within the unobstructed view of all persons present in the polling place until

replaced in the box. The election officers, after proceeding to canvass and compute the votes cast shall not adjourn or postpone same, until the canvass or computation is fully completed, except that an announcement of the results of the canvassing must be publicly announced and a report made to Headquarters once every hour. The first announcement and report will be due at Headquarters at 8:30 p.m. or as close to that time as Headquarters may be reached by telephone. A list of the telephone numbers will be furnished you by Election Day.

Here I would also like to say that the Judge of Election at each polling place is to notify headquarters at 12 o'clock noon, 4 o'clock p.m. and as soon as the polls have closed as to how many electors have voted at that polling place as of that time.

Section 623 of the Election Code of the Virgin Islands reads as follows: (a) At general elections, a crossmark (X) in the square opposite the name and emblem of a political party in the Party Column shall be counted as a vote for every candidate of the party so marked whose name appears on the ballot.

(b) A ballot is invalid when :

(1) it does not appear with certainty to whom the voter has intended to give his vote;

(2) the quality of the ballot gives ground for supposing that the ballot is not one of those given out by the officer in charge of the ballots and marked in a voting booth; or

(3) on the ballot anything is found, written, drawn, or marked in any other way, whereby it is found to be purposely made known who the voter is, or generally when by any treatment which can only be supposed to have been the work of the elector, the ballot is found to have been intentionally given a peculiar stamp or character.

(c) No ballot shall be rejected for the sole reason that it is not properly marked with a cross if the intention of the voter clearly appears.

(d) The following general rules as to acceptable and nonacceptable markings shall apply in determining the validity or invalidity of ballots:

ACCEPTABLE MARKINGS

1. A cross in the square however imperfectly formed.

2. Whenever lines cross one another in the square at a common center, even though more than two are used.

3. Figures in the square resembling capital letters in which the lines cross.

4. Crosses in the square, the ends of which curl up in a hook.

5. Cross in the square partially obscured by a heavy printed line on the paper.

6. A capital "T" in the square.

7. A check mark in the square.

8. A capital "V" in the square.

9. "Yes" in the square.

10. A diagonal line in the square.

11. Straight line or other figures in the square.

12. Cross, or other markings as above, to the left of candidate's name, if it is clear that the marking refers only to the candidate.

13. Cross, or other markings as above, partly, but not wholly, in the square opposite the candidate's name.

1. Hole in the paper.

NONACCEPTABLE MARKINGS

2. Indentation resulting from making cross or other mark on another piece of paper laid on top of the ballot.

3. A smudge, smear or blur.

4. Markings to the left of a candidate's name, if it is unclear whether the marking might refer to another candidate.

After you are through with all the canvassing and computation and the statement entitled "Statement of Votes Cast" has been completed and signed by the five Election Officers, a public announcement is to be made. The ballots cast, including those declared voided during the tallying, and the tally sheets shall be securely sealed in a package and labeled as follows: "Enclosed are the tally sheets and all the ballots cast at the General Election held in the Legislative District of at the Polling District (Polling place located at -) on the 8th day of November, 1966." This package is to be signed on the outside by all five election officers.

The Judge of Elections of each Polling Place and the Inspector of the different party affiliation to the Judge shall then deliver the packages, the ballot box, the District Register and all other items or supplies to the Board of Elections at Headquarters in St. Thomas, and in St. Croix and St. John to the places directed by the Chairmen of the Boards of those Legislative Districts. There are still certain subjects that we should discuss here:

1. Electioneering.-Section 556 of the Election Code reads as follows: "There shall be no electioneering within the polls or on the grounds or in other buildings connected with the polls."

2. Assistance of Police.-Section 557 of the Election Code reads as follows: "The Commissioner of Public Safety shall, through the police division of his department, aid the Boards of Elections and Election Officers in preserving the peace and carrying out the provisions of this title. The Election Officers, or any three qualified electors of a polling district, may call upon any police officer to clear an avenue to the door of the polling place in such district which is obstructed in such a way as to prevent electors from approaching, or to maintain order and quell any disturbance, if such arises." 3. Watchers.-I have been mentioning "Watchers" here and there during these Instructions and would like to go a little deeper into the matter at this point. Section 552 of the Election Code of the Virgin Islands provides for Watchers as follows:

(b) Each political party or political body which has nominated candidates in accordance with this title, and each nominated independent candidate, may appoint three watchers at any general election for each polling place in which the candidates of such party or body, or such independent candidate, are to be voted for. Such watchers shall serve without expense to the territory.

(c) All Watchers appointed under this section shall be qualified registered voters of the legislative district in which they are authorized to act. Only one watcher for each candidate at primaries, or for each political party or body or independent candidate at general elections, shall be allowed to remain in the polling place at any one time prior to the close of the polls, and all watchers in the room shall remain outside the enclosed space. After the close of the polls and while the ballots are being counted, all the watchers shall be permitted to be in the polling place outside the enclosed space. Each watcher shall be provided with a certificate from the district board of elections, stating his name and the name of the candidate, political party or body or independent nominee he represents. Watchers shall be required to show their certificates when requested to do so.

(d) Watchers allowed in the polling place under the provisions of this section shall be permitted to keep a list of voters and shall be entitled to challenge any person making application to vote.

Many persons complained at previous elections that the Election Officers "held the ballots in a hidden or concealed manner" and only allowed the watchers to see ballots which appeared invalid. I am directing the Election Officers to hold all ballots in such a manner at all times that the ballots are visible to all watchers present-be the ballots as clearly or precisely marked as is possible, or be they mutilated, defaced or questionable as is possible.

I believe that I have touched on almost every subject or major point, but questions can and may be asked at any time prior to Election Day or even on the same day, if necessary. Remember, however, that the Election is to be conducted by the Election Officers and therefore you all should attempt to familiarize yourselves with all the aspects of the election and should not be afraid to make decisions.

Let us endeavor to keep all of our actions, or words and our deeds always above reproach!

Let us endeavor to be able to classify the clashes, insinuations, doubts, aspersions or distrust that are almost certain to arise or which may be uttered or made as groundless, unjustifiable, malicious rumors, slurs or insinuations made by temporarily or momentarily dejected, frustrated or over-exerted individuals! Let us endeavor to maintain ourselves in a dignified, calm and composed manner, as "Officers" or "Officials" are expected to do!

Dated: October 24, 1966.

HENRITA TODMAN, Supervisor of Elections.