Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1903 — METHOD OF CASTING BALLOTS. [ARTICLE]

METHOD OF CASTING BALLOTS.

Procedure bjr Which the Cardinals Klect a Pope in Conclave. The cardinals, when seated, are surmounted by canopies—violet for cardinals created by the late Pope, green for Oreglia, the only cardinal living who was created by an earlier Tope. Upon a Pope being elected all the cgnopies are lowered, that of the new Pope alone being left standing. A writing table is before each cardinal, besides six more in the middle. The senior cardinal-bishop

occupies a seat on the gospel side of the main altar. The senior cardinal-deacon sits on the opposite or epistle side. Other cardinals, bishops, priests and deacons are arranged around in the order of the date of their creation. Cardinals in their places or at"nny of the six additional tables fill their “sehede,” or voting papers, folding down and sealing the top end of the paper, where the voter’s name is written, and the bottom end, where each writes iKune scriptural motto, which becomes his distinctive mark and which he uses through the election. In the middle of the paper, between the two sealed folds, each elector writes the name •'of the candidate for whom he votes, that name alone being unsealed and open. On the main.altar at the communion table stands a large chalice, covered by a pix. When all are ready each cardinal in turn steps up to the altar, swears aloud that his vote is given upon conscientious conviction, then lays his paper on the pix, and raises and tilts the pix, letting his paper slide into the chalice. When all have voted the scrutineers examine the papers, read and tell the candidates’ names, breaking no seals. Should none of the candidates obtain the legal number of votes (two-thirds of the votes, with one additional), the afternoon, an “accereit” ballot becomes necessary. Each voter is then allowed to change his mind, or forsake his morning candidate, whom he may consider hopeless, and “accede" or join his vote to that of any other candidate who has already secured votes in the morning and may have a better chance. In this case the voter’ writes in his paper “atjcpdo” before tlie name of big hew candidate. If he wishes to abide by his morning vote, he write*" “accedo nemini," thus confirming his morning vote. The ScrutiueerS again read and tell the vjtes, unsealing the bottom end of the voting papers, to establish the identity of the morning and evening vote of each elector by the scriptural motto distinguishing him, without, however, breaking the seal at the top end, where the voter's name is \*.itten, which remains a secret If neither at the morning nor evening ballot any of the candidates has obtained the legal number of votes, the papers are burnt with damp straw, emitting a dense smoke, and this emoke, arising from the well-known chimney, informs the outer world that no Pope has been made, and that a new ballot has become necessary. Should any candidate obtain precisely two-thirds of the votes, his own voting paper moat be singled out and the seal concealing hia name broken to make sure that he has not voted for himself. If be has sot done so his election is valid.