Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1823

LXV After the 4th Day Returning Officer may close any Booth when 20 have not polled in the Day. But Booths for polling may be kept open if Persons be prevented by Force from coming to the same.

And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Returning Officer or Officers, at any Election for a Member to serve in Parliament for every County of a City or County of a Town, and he and they is and are hereby required, on any Day after the Fourth Day of polling, computing therein the Day on which the Poll shall be commenced, to close finally the Poll in any Booth or Place of polling in which no more than Twenty Persons have polled, or been referred for Decision to the Returning Officer or Officers, during that Day : Provided always, that in case it shall appear, upon the Evidence of Two or more credible Witnesses taken upon Oath (and which Oath the Returning Officer or Officers is and are hereby empowered to administer), to the Returning Officer or Officers, that any Person intending to offer themselves to poll in such Booth or Place of polling have been prevented by Force and Violence from coming to the same for the Purpose of polling on that Day, that then and in every such Case it shall be lawful to and for the Returning Officer or Officers to keep such Booths or Place of polling open for another Day, and so on from Day to Day if such Force and Violence be repeated, and be found to have taken place on such Evidence as aforesaid, to the Satisfaction of the Returning Officer or Officers.