Ballot

' n. A ball or a ticket used in voting; a paper embodying a vote; also, the whole number of votes cast. v. To decide by voting. 1 Pitts V. Millar, ante, ' L. bilanx, having two scales, s Mc Williams w.'AUen, 45 Mo. 574 (1870). < Lopez V. Lopez, 23 S. C. 269 (1885); Skinner u.

Lamp, 3 Ired. L. 165 (1842). » Evans v. Wain, 71 Pa. 74 (1872).

May refer to the decision of a juror or jurors, or to the preferences of persons qualified to elect the oi Scers of a corporation or of a govermnent. In French dictionaries, defii^ed as " the act of voting by balls or tickets by putting the same into a * box or urn; " also as, " secret voting by means of a ball or tioliet." The word did not change its meaning when adopted into the English language.* As applied to elections of public officers, voting by ballot signifies a mode of designating an elector's choice of a person for an pffice by the deposit of a ticket; bearing the name of such person, in a receptacle provided for the purpose, in such a way as to secure to the elector the privilege of complete and inviolable secrecy in regard to the person voted for.^ Ttiis privilege of secrecy is the distinguishing feature of ballot voting. The object in view is the independence of the voter.= Voting by ba Uot is a constitutional method of voting which cannot be changed by a statute. Its perpetuation is meant to secure the right to vote without having the voter's opinion of men or measures inquired into.' See Test, Acts. The natural import of " balloting at a national, State, or municipal election" is, balloting in and for the election of national. State, or municipal officers. The expression will not apply to ballots casts for or against a regulation like that of granting licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors.* Ballot-box. A receptacle for ballots; more precisely, such receptacle as is authorized by law. " To stuff a ballot-box " means unlawfully, fraudulently, and clandestinely to place in a ballot-box, at a lawful election, ballots which have not been voted, with intent to affect the result of the election.^ See Election, 1; Vote. BAN; BANXf." Public proclamation or notice. Banns of matrimony. Publication, by oral announcement, of an intended marriage, in a church or public chapel. 'State V. Shaw, 9 S. 0.

138 (1877); Williams v. Stein, 38 Ind. 92 (1871). ^Brisbin v. Cleary, 26 Minn. 108 (1879), cases. Berry, J. See also Temple v. Mead, 4 Vt. S41 (1832); People v. Pease, 27 N. T. 45, 57 (1868); Williams v. Stein, Ss'lnd. 92, 95 (1871). 3 Attorney-General i).

DetTOit Common Council, 58 Mich. 217 (1885). " Commonwealth v. Howe, 144 Mass. 145 (1887),— upon an indictment for casting more than one ballot, contrary to Pub. Sts. c.

7, § 57. 1 See R. S. § 5615; Exp. Siebold, 100 U. S. 379 (1879).

Affords opportunity to interpose legal objection to the marriage.*