82 OBSERVATIONS ON THE HARE SYSTEM 



counting, and distributing ballot-papers be carried on 

 simultaneously with the work of polling. 



Second. — Depute the duty of transmitting in due order 

 from time to time the various ballot-boxes (one at a time) 

 to counting-room to a particular officer, who shall see that 

 the contents are discharged upon the first sorting-table by 

 the Superintendent of the counting-room, who alone 

 possesses the power to unlock the boxes. A spare box 

 should be always available in the polling-room to take the 

 place of the box during its transmission and return from 

 counting-room. 



Third. — Let the chief returning officer periodically 

 examine and finally determine all doubtful and invalid 

 papers set apart for his decision. 



Fourth. — Prior to the day of election, the Superinten- 

 dent of the counting-room should make the necessary 

 calculations which would determine the number of 

 separate sorting and counting tables and the necessary 

 staff. The staff, prior to the day of election, should 

 receive an object lesson from the Superintendent in the 

 work that they are to be engaged, and the latter should 

 by actual trial satisfy himself that each one thoroughly 

 understands the particular process entrusted to him. 



Fifth. — In the work of sorting and recording each 

 subdivision, marked A, B, C, D, E, F, no conversation or 

 discussion should be allowed. If a paper is challenged as 

 doubtfully invalid, it should, without discussion or com- 

 ment, be placed in the place set apart for doubtful 

 papers, to be finally determined by the decision of the 

 chief returning officer. 



Sixth. — Apart from the candidates' onlooking scruti- 

 neers, there should be three officers set apart for each 

 recording table, which latter should be equipped with as 

 many named cells as there are candidates, and with two 

 extra cells for the reception of doubtful and invalid 

 papers respectively. The chief officer at each table 

 should take the central position, and his duty is to 

 examine each paper, and see at a glance whether valid, 

 doubtful, or invalid. If valid, he should quickly call 

 out name and preference number; thus : — Fysh, 1 ; 

 Bradley, 1 ; Clark, 1 ; Fysh, 1 ; Clark, 1 ; and simul- 

 taneously place each paper in its proper receptacle. The 

 recorders, one on each side, both enter a 1 in the proper 

 column for each name called out. 



As each pair of sheets is completed, the chief clerk 

 should compare the totals of the one with the other, and 

 if they agree the pair of recording sheets should forthwith 



