regularity, or formality of such registration, qualification, or assessment of voters, or of such voting lists or ballots, or matters or things pertaining thereto, in any other legal

manner.

to be con

strued.

12. The provisions of chapter four hundred and seven- How act is teen of the acts of eighteen hundred and ninety-three, so far as they are the same as those of existing statutes, shall be 1893, C. 417, construed as a continuation of such statutes, and not as new § 12. enactments; and the repeal by said act of any provision of Repeal not law shall not affect any act done, liability incurred, or any to affect, right accrued and established, or any suit or prosecution, civil or criminal, pending or to be instituted to enforce any right or penalty, or punish any offence under the authority of the repealed statutes.

etc.

Qualifications of

male voters.

$13.

TITLE II.

QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS.

13. Every male citizen of twenty-one years of age or upwards, not being a pauper or person under guardian1893, c. 417, ship, who is able to read the constitution of the Commonwealth in the English language and write his name, and who has resided within the Commonwealth one year and within the city or town in which he claims a right to vote, six calendar months next preceding a state, city, or town election, may have his name entered upon the list of voters in such city or town, and shall have the right to vote therein in any such election, or in any meeting held for the transaction of town affairs, upon complying with the requirements hereinafter set forth; and, except as above provided, no male person shall have his name entered upon the list of voters, or have the right to vote, except that no person who is prevented from reading or writing as aforesaid by a physical disability, or who had the right to vote on the first day of May, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, shall, if otherwise qualified, be deprived of the right to vote by reason of not being Soldier re- able so to read or write; and no person having served in ceiving aid. the army or navy of the United States in the time of war, and having been honorably discharged from such service, if otherwise qualified to vote, shall be disqualified therefor on account of receiving or having received aid from any city or town; and further, no person, otherwise qualified Removal of to vote for national or state officers, shall, by reason of a residence. change of residence within the Commonwealth, be disqualified from voting for such officers in the city or town from which he has removed his residence, until the expiration of six calendar months from the time of such removal.

Qualifications of female

14. Every female citizen of twenty-one years of age or upwards, not being a pauper or person under guardianvoters, etc. ship, who is able to read the constitution of the CommonIbid. § 14. wealth in the English language and to write her name,

and who has resided within the Commonwealth one year and within the city or town in which she claims a right to vote six calendar months next preceding an election for school committee, may have her name entered upon the list of voters for school committee in such city or town, and shall have the right to vote therein in every such election for members of the school committee, upon complying with the requirements hereinafter set forth; and, except as aforesaid, no female person shall have her name entered upon the list of voters or have the right or be allowed to vote, except that no female person who is prevented from reading or writing as aforesaid by a physical disability shall, if otherwise qualified, be deprived of the right to vote by reason of not being able so to read or write.

and voting. 1893, C. 417,

15. A person qualified to vote in a city, which is divided Place of into wards or voting precincts, shall be registered and be registration entitled to vote in the ward or voting precinct in which he resided on the first day of May preceding the election, or, § 15. if he first became an inhabitant of such city after such first

day of May, in the ward or voting precinct in which he first thereafter became a resident.

department created.

1895, c. 449,

§ 2. Appointment of

BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS.

Election 16. The election department is hereby created a department of the city of Boston, and shall be under the charge of the officers herein designated therefor. Said officers shall be citizens and voters of Boston and shall be appointed by the mayor of said city, without confirmation by the board of aldermen; and chapter two hundred and sixty-six of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and eighty-five, and all other acts relating to departments of the city of Boston or the officers and employees thereof, not inconsistent herewith, shall be applicable to said election department and to the officers and employees thereof.

officers, etc.

Election

ers, appoint

ment, term,

etc.

Ibid. § 3.

17. The election department shall be under the charge commission- of a board of four election commissioners, and they shall be so selected that two will always be of the political party which at the annual state election next preceding their appointment cast the largest vote for governor, and two will be of the political party which cast the next largest vote for governor; during the current year one of said commissioners shall be appointed for one year, one for two years, one for three years and one for four years, beginning with the first day of May in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five; and annually, after the current year, one such commissioner shall be appointed as aforesaid for the term of four years, beginning with the first day of May in the year of his appointment. The mayor shall, on or before the first day of May in each year, designate one of Chairman. said commissioners to serve as chairman for the year beginning with said day. Any commissioner aforesaid may, after notice and hearing, be removed by the mayor of said Compensa- city, for cause. Said commissioners shall receive an

tion.

Board of registrars of voters, etc., abol. ished.

annual salary, the chairman of four thousand dollars, and each of the other commissioners, of three thousand five hundred dollars, or such other salary as the city council may by ordinance prescribe. The board of registrars of voters and the offices of registrars of voters of said city are hereby abolished.

duties of

election

18. Said board of election commissioners shall have Powers and and exercise all the powers and duties now conferred by law upon said board of registrars of voters, including the commis. preparation of the jury list, and also all the powers and sioners. duties relating to the selection of election officers, the 1895, c. 449, preparation of ballots, the posting and publishing of lists $4. of candidates, the furnishing of places for voting, the care of ballot boxes, the registration of voters, the determination of the results of caucuses, elections, and all other 1895, c. 502, § 2. matters relating to caucuses and elections in said city, now conferred upon the mayor, board of aldermen, or city clerk of said city, except the power and duty of giving notice of elections and fixing the days and hours of holding the same. Said board of election commissioners shall further have and exercise all the powers and duties now conferred upon the city clerk or other officers by chapter five hundred and four of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninetyfour and acts in amendment thereof; and all laws relating to the registration of voters in the city of Boston, not inconsistent with this act, shall apply to and be observed and carried out by said board of election commissioners.

sistants.

1895, c. 449,

19. Said board may, with the approval of the mayor, May apappoint not exceeding three assistants, who shall be citi- point aszens and residents of Boston, each to have charge of a division of said department, and a secretary of such department; and such appointment shall be exempt from the laws relating to civil service in the Commonwealth and the cities and towns thereof.

§ 20.

tions for

and return

20. Said board may make such regulations, not in- Regula consistent with the provisions of chapter four hundred counting and seventeen of the acts of eighteen hundred and ninety- ing votes. three, in regard to the manner of receiving ballots at the 1893, C. 417, §§ 155, 205. polls and of counting and returning votes as they may deem expedient.