Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1823
So much of recited Acts as relate to Election of Members for Counties of Cities and Counties of Towns, repealed.
IIMayor or other Chief Magistrate to hold Sessions for Registry of Freeholders. If Two Justices attend, Mayor's Presence not necessary.
IIIFreeholds may be registered at any Sessions.
IVFreeholders, having Freeholds (not consisting of a Rentcharge) of 50l. or 20l. to take the following Oath.
VPersons holding Freeholds consisting of Rentcharge of 50l. or 20l. to take the following Oath. Oath.
VIFreeholders under the Value of 20l. to take the following Oath. Oath. Persons having Freeholds not arising from a Deed or Lease, to describe the same in the Oath;
VIINo Tax, Cess, &c. shall be deemed a Charge, &c.
VIIIOath to be signed by Mayor, Justices or Recorder, &c. and delivered to Clerk of the Peace.
IXWhere 50l. Freeholders take Oath as herein in Dublin, or Assizes, &c. such may be produced at Sessions, &c, and shall, be as good as if taken at Sessions.
XFreeholders on actual Service in Army or Militia, may register where they are quartered.
XIFreeholds not to be registered, unless Instruments under which they arise be stamped.
XIICertificate of Registry to be given to Freeholder, for which the Clerk of the Peace shall be paid 3d.
XIIISubstance of Affidavit to be entered in Registry Book.
XIVDeed or Lease produced by Persons registering Freehold to be indorsed by Clerk of the Peace.
XVRegistry not to be impeached for Irregularity in holding Sessions.
XVIFranchises of Persons already registered not to be affected.
XVIIPenalty on Mayor, &c. for Neglect of Duty, 100l. Penalty on Clerk of the Peace for Neglect of Duty, 50l.
XVIIIClerk of the Peace shall make Entries of such Registers in alphabetical Books.
XIXCopies of Books to be printed. One Copy to be delivered to each Justice, and Six Copies to each Member.
XXClerk of the Peace to furnish Copies of Entries in Registry Books, and to be paid at the Rate of 3d. for every 100 Names. Penalty for omitting to furuish Copy, 100l.
XXIClerk of Peace neglecting to keep Books or to make Entries, &c. shall forfeit 100l. and be disqualified; for neglecting to attend at Sessions &c. 50l.
XXIIGrand Juries may present for Expence of printing alphabetical Books, and providing Registry Books.
XXIIINo Freeholder to vote unless registered. Freeholds of 20l. or 40s. to be registered within 8 Years before Teste of Writ ; Freeholds of 50l. or 20l. to be registered 6 Months ; and if let to Person under whom held, or for Term for which held, to be registered 12 Months. Rentcharger not to vote unless Freehold registered 12 Months. 40s. Freeholder not to be admitted to vote, if Freehold let to Person under whom derived ; or if Freehold let for Term for which held ; or unless 12 Months registered ; unless derived by Descent, &c. If Freehold shall come by Descent, to be 6 Months registered.
XXIVNone to vote by virtue of Freeholds granted fraudulently, or in consideration of Increase of Rent.
XXVNone to vote under 21 Years old.
XXVIGrant fraudulently made as Freehold, to be valid against Grantee.
XXVIIPenalty on Persons making Grants as Freehold, to induce Lessees to register them as Freeholds, having only a Term of Years therein.
XXVIIIConveyances made fraudulently to qualify Voters shall be deemed valid against the Persons who grant them. All Covenants for Redemption shall be void. Persons who execute or prepare such Conveyances, or who vote under such, forfeit 100l.
XXIXNo Trustee or Mortgagee to vote, unless in possession 12 Months before the Teste of Writ. Mortgagor may vote. Clergymen not obliged to register Ecclesiastical Freeholds. None precluded who have disposed of a Part, if they retain as much as sworn to.
XXXTown Clerk, or other proper Officer of City or Town, to keep Registry Book of Persons to whom Freedom shall be granted ; and give Lists of Entries when required, on receiving at the Rate of 3d. for every 100 Names. Penalty for Neglect, 100l.
XXXIOfficers of Corporations to admit Candidates, &c. at Times herein mentioned, to inspect Books on Payment of 2s. 6d. and give Copies on receiving 2s. 6d. for each Admission. Penalty for Refusal, 100l.
XXXIIFreemen not to vote unless admitted to Freedom, or Freedom granted to them, Six Months before Teste of Writ.
XXXIIISheriffs shall indorse on Writs for Elections the Time of receiving thereof, and make Proclamation and affix Notice on the Court House.
XXXIVWhenever more than 800 Freeholders are registered in any County of a City or County of a Town, additional Places of polling shall be provided, &c. Deputies and Poll Clerks to be appointed.
XXXVWhen Freemen shall exceed 1,000, Two Places of polling to be provided for them.
XXXVIPolls shall begin on the Day when demanded or the Day after, and continue daily, and conclude at 3 o'clock on the 15th Day (Sundays, Christmas-day, and Good Friday excepted). Return shall be made on the 15th Day.
XXXVIIReturning Officer to take the following Oath :
XXXVIIIOath of Clerk for taking Poll of Freeholders ; his Duty.
XXXIXOath of Clerk biking Poll of Freemen ; his Duty.
XLSheriff shall attend at a Booth separate from polling Booths, to decide disputed Questions.
XLIDeputy Sheriffs to appoint in each Place of polling one Person to be Inspector and Agent, and another to be Clerk for checking the Poll Clerk for each Candidate.
XLIIDeputies may be removed, &c.
XLIIIOn Demand of Candidates, Returning Officers shall appoint Interpreters. Oath.
XLIVClerk of the Peace shall appoint a Deputy to attend at Election with Registry Books and original Affidavits of Registry alphabetically arranged, &c. Such Deputy to receive 10s. per Day, and his Assistant 5s. per Day. Penalty for altering or defacing Affidavits, 10l.
XLVDeputy Town Clerk to attend Sheriffs with Books containing Entries of Grants of Admissions to Freedoms. Allowance for Attendance 10s. per Day.
XLVITown Clerk to provide Copy of Grand Panel or Roll of Freemen for each polling Place, for Freemen ; and shall appoint Deputy to attend with it. Attendance 10s. per Day.
XLVIIOath of not having voted before and of being of Age, to be put, if required. Oath.
XLVIIIOath of not having received Reward for voting to be administered, if required. Oath.
XLIXDeputy to refer to Registry Book, and Certificate of Registry deemed conclusive Evidence, and in default thereof, the original Affidavit.
LWhen Entry of Freehold appears in Registry, vote to be taken unless Oaths required or Objections made.
LIQuestions to be put to Voters and to Freeholders if required. If Entry of Freehold shall not appear in Book, &c. Deputy to refer Person offering to vote to Returning Officer.
LIIQuestions to be put to Persons offering to vote as Freemen, if required.
LIIIWhere Vote is objected to a Memorandum of the Objection shall be made by the Poll Clerk for the Returning Officer to decide. Oath to be administered to such Voter. Vote may be allowed or rejected by Returning Officer or his Assessor.
LIVCircumstances under which Returning Officers reject Vote of Person claiming to be Freeholder.
LVCircumstances under which Votes tendered by Persons claiming to be Freemen, may be rejected.
LVIImproper Votes to be taken off the Poll by the Returning Officer on Complaint of Candidate before the final closing of the Poll. Affidavit to be sworn to, and Witnesses examined on Oath as to the Complaint.
LVIIReturning Officer only to examine Voters objected to.
LVIIIRestraining Persons from speaking during the Time of polling.
LIXReturning Officer may commit Persons obstructing the Poll.
LXDeputies shall not reject Votes or examine Voters except as before provided.
LXIInstructions to be observed by Deputies.
LXIIDeputy to close and give up his Poll Book each Day to Officer, who shall sum up the Number. 50l. Penalty on Deputy refusing to deliver Poll Book, or polling after directed to stop, or before directed to begin, and Votes not allowed.
LXIIIDeputy Sheriffs and Officers neglecting their Duty at Election, shall lose their Compensation.
LXIVAppointing the Hours for commencing and ending the Poll each Day.
LXVAfter 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.
LXVIReturning Officer may summon Constables, Bailiffs, &c. to attend Elections.
LXVIIIn case of Death or Illness of Returning Officer, the first sworn Deputy shall perform the Duty. In case the first sworn Deputy should not be able to act, then the Deputies in Succession shall perform the Duty.
LXVIIINo more to be returned than required by the Writ. Officer to have casting Voice. Officer to forfeit 2,000l. if he returns more than the Number directed, and to be incapable of voting.
LXIXReturning Officer or Deputy causing unnecessary Delay to forfeit 500l.
LXXRioting not to be an Excuse for closing the Poll. Persons rioting or injuring Poll Book, &c. to be transported for Seven Years.
LXXIReturn Writ to contain Certificate of Numbers who voted for respective Candidates.
LXXIIWhen Writs of Election are to be returned. Penalty 100l.
LXXIIINo Fee or Reward to Returning Officer; Contracts for making a Return shall be void. Persons giving or accepting such, forfeit the Amount and 200l.
LXXIVElection of Persons under 21 Years shall be void, and new Writs issued.
LXXVPunishment of Officers returning corruptly or partially.
LXXVIPoll Books to be delivered to the Clerk of the Peace to be kept among the Records of the County.
LXXVIIAccount of Sums received by Sheriffs for Expences of Election to be returned with the Poll Books to Clerk of the Peace.
LXXVIIIClerk of the Peace to take an Oath for the Performance of his Duty. Oath.
LXXIXEntertainments, Presents, Cockades, Promises, &c. disallowed.
LXXXPersons having Freeholds under 20l. Value to vote though not residing thereon.
LXXXIPersons who ask or receive any Reward for themselves or others, or who influence others for Reward, &c. forfeit 500l.
LXXXIIPersons polling Twice, or personating Voters, may be punished by Two Years Imprisonment.
LXXXIIIPenalty on fraudulent Voters, 20l.
LXXXIVPersons voting from Freehold of which he is not in Possession, to be imprisoned Six Months.
LXXXVPerjury.
LXXXVIMode of recovering Penalties.
LXXXVIITreble Costs if nonsuited. Action to be commenced within One Year. General Issue may be pleaded. Double Costs.

Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1823

1823 Chapter 55

An Act to consolidate and amend the several Acts now in force, so far as the same relate to the Election and Return of Members to serve in Parliament, for Counties of Cities and Counties of Towns in Ireland.

WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the several Acts now in force, so far as the same relate to the Election and Return of Members to serve in Parliament for Counties of Cities and Counties of Towns in Ireland;

be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,