A MANUAL

OF THE

PRACTICE OF ELECTIONS.

Just ready,

THE LAW AND PRACTICE OF

ELECTION PETITIONS.

WITH

THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ACT, 1868,

AND THE RULES FOR TRIALS OF CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS.

BY HENRY HARDCASTLE, Esq.

***The above Work is printed uniform with Bushby's Election Law Manual, and may be had as a separate book, or bound up with this volume.

OF THE

PRACTICE OF ELECTIONS

FOR

THE UNITED KINGDOM;

WITH AN APPENDIX OF STATUTES, THE RULES
OF PROCEDURE,

AND THE

ABSTRACTS OF THE PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS OF THE BALLOT
ACT ISSUED BY THE HOME OFFICE.

FOURTH EDITION.

BY

HENRY HARDCASTLE,

OF THE INNER TEMPLE, BARRISTER-AT-LAW.

LONDON:

STEVENS AND HAYNES,
Law Publishers,

BELL YARD, TEMPLE BAR.

1874.

PREFACE

TO THE FOURTH EDITION.

SINCE the publication of the third edition of this work many alterations have taken place as to the law of parliamentary elections. By the Ballot Act, 1872, the procedure for the three Kingdoms has been to a great extent assimilated; but many minor differences still remain. These differences are carefully explained in this edition. In addition to the rules of procedure contained in the first schedule of the Ballot Act, the Home Secretary and Lord Advocate have issued abstracts of the principal provisions of the Ballot Act for the information of returning officers in England and Scotland respectively. These abstracts will be found in the Appendix. Much light has been thrown upon the law as to corrupt practices and agency by the decisions of the election judges in the petitions which have been heard under the Parliamentary Elections Act, 1868. It has therefore been necessary to re-write, to a great extent, the last chapter in the book. It is hoped