Sec.1.  For the convenient exercise of political power, as well as for the purposes of government generally, the territory of a state is divided into districts of small extent.  It has been remarked, that the people of a state, being too numerous to meet in one assembly to make laws and transact the public business, elect a small number to represent them.  But to elect these representatives and other officers, and to adopt the constitution, or fundamental law of the state, are political duties, which must be performed by the people in person, and in a collective capacity.  Hence the necessity of small territorial divisions, in which the people may assemble for political purposes.

Sec.2.  A state is divided into counties, and these are divided into towns or townships.  The people of every county and every town have power to manage their local concerns.  The corporate powers of counties and towns, and the election and the powers and duties of county and town officers, will be given in subsequent chapters.

Sec.3.  The electors of the state meet every year in their respective towns for the election of officers.  Meetings for electing town officers are, in a majority of the states, held in the earlier part of the year.  Most officers elected by the people, other than town officers, are chosen at the general state election, which, in most of the states, is held in October or November.

Sec.4.  Elections are conducted by persons designated by law, or chosen by the electors of the town for that purpose.  It is their duty to preserve order, and to see that the business is properly done.  They are usually called judges of elections, or inspectors of elections.  Persons also, (usually two,) serve as clerks.  Each clerk keeps a list of the names of the persons voting, which is called a poll-list.  Poll, which is said to be a Saxon word, signifies head, and has come to mean person.  Thus, so much a head means so much for every person By a further change it has been made to signify an election, because the persons there voting are numbered.  Hence, “going to the polls” has obtained the same meaning as going to an election.

Sec.5.  When the inspectors are ready to receive votes, one of them makes it known by proclaiming with a loud voice, that “the polls are now open.”  The inspectors receive from each voter a ballot, which is a piece of paper containing the names of the persons voted for, and the title of the office to which each of them is to be elected. Ballot, from the French, means a little ball, and is used in voting.  Ballots are of different colors; those of one color signifying an affirmative vote, or yes; those of another color a negative vote, or no.  From this has come the application of the word ballot to the written or printed ticket now used in voting.