Thursday 23d. June 1737

Electionsof officers to
be by Ballot}

At this Court the Question being put that Elections at this Hospital upon
vacancys for the future be determined by Balloting the Court was divided the Ay's
to the night hand and the Nos to the left hand of the President and Tellers were
appointed Vizt. John Basworth< no role > Esqr . Chamberlain of this City and Mr. Deputy
Danzie who reported that the Number of Ay's was Fifty three and the No's
Twenty fourWhereupon It is Ordered That for the future all
Elections at a General Court upon Vacancys in these Hospitals (Except the
Elections of the President Treasurer & Auditor General and Governors and all
Comittees thereof or when there is only a single Candidate) shall be determined
by Ballotting in the following manner Vizt.

That a conveinent time before the day of every such Election there shall be provided
printed Ticketts of the same paper size and letter which Ticketts are to contain only the
respective names of the Candidates then standing for such Election And that One
thousand thereof for every Candidate shall be deposited into so many several Boxes
as there are Candidates and which Boxes shall be affixed in such manner and
in such place as the President or Treasurer of the said Hospital for the time being
shall direct or appoint to the End that every by governor on the day of and before such
respective Elections may resort thereto for the same as they shall think fitt.

That a Glass Vessell proper for that purpose shall be provided and such Vessell
on the day of Election be set before the President or Treasurer or such other person who
shall preside there in such place and manner as such President Treasurer or person
so presiding shall order and direct and that every Governor appearing at such Election
having folded up one of the said Ticketts in a Close manner containing the name
of such Candidate for whom he designs to Vote shall give the same into the hand of
such President Treasurer or other person so presiding or to such other person as such
person so presiding shall Order for that purpose, and who shall imediately put such
Tickett into the said Glass Vessell and every Governor so ballotting as aforesaid shall
at the same time give his name to the Clerk of the said Hospital who shall
imediately mark down the same And if on casting up and opening the said Ticketts
as is herein after directed there shall appear to be two or more Ticketts folded
together That then such Ticketts so folded together shall be rejected and flung
out & not be accounted or reckoned for any of the said Candidates.

That a certain time be fixed for Determining such Balloting which time shall
contain the space of two hours (that is to say) such ballotting shall begin at the hour
of twelve at Noon and shall end at two in the Afternoon and from henceforth as
often as there shall be occasion of any Election or Elections as aforesaid the time so
fixed for and allowed to ballot in shall be expressed and fully incerted in the
Summons for every such General Court so that every Governor may by fairly
apprized there of.

That imediately after the Expiration of such time to be so declared for the
Determination of such Ballotting as a aforesaid all the said Ticketts shall be taken out
of the said Glass Vessell before the President Treasurer or such other person so
presiding at such Elections and shall be then fairly cast up and divided to the end
that the numbers of each Candidate may be known, and for the more justly doing
the same and that each Candidate may be satisfied therein, such Candidate shall
and may each of them appoint one of the said Governors then present for and on
their respective behalfs to inspect and view such casting up of the said Ticketts as
aforesaid and such respective Governors so appointed shall and may be present &
assisting indoing the same and such Candidate who on the casting up of such
Ticketts as aforesaid shall appear to have the Majority shall be deemed and taken
to be duly Elected & shall then be imediately declared by the President Treasurer
or such other person so presiding at such Elections to be duly Elected But in case
it shall at any time happen that two or more of the said Candidates shall have
an equal Number of Votes upon casting up such Ballot as aforesaid that then
such of the said Candidates as the President Treasurer or person so presiding at
such Elections as aforesaid shall name shall be declared to be duly Elected.

And for the more quiet and peaceably carrying on and determining all such
Elections for the future and to prevent all heats and misunderstandings which may
arise amongst the Governors upon Account of such Elections, all such Elections shall be
determined at one intire Ballotting only, and the person having a Majority in such
Ballotting, be the number of the Candidates never so many, shall under the Rules
and Prescriptions aforesaid be deemed and taken to be the person duly Elected.