§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
§ MR. G. BUTT, in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, stated that its object was to diminish the expense of elections, particularly in counties. The House was aware that the law, as it at present stood, was fixed in 1785, by the 25 Geo. III., which provided that two days after the receipt of a writ, the sheriff should give notice of a county court, and proceed to the election, not later than sixteen days, and not sooner than ten days, after the receipt of the notice. The present Bill proposed that these dates should be reduced to ten and five days respectively. He thought this reduction of time would effect a considerable saving to county candidates, as the period intervening between the notice and the writ was generally that in which expenses were most multiplied. In boroughs, by the 3 & 4 Vict., the returning officer, on getting the precept, was required to proceed with the election within eight days, and giving three days' notice. He proposed further to limit this time, in order to prevent the days of election conflicting with those in the counties. In the Universities he proposed to limit the polling to five days, which five days should fall between Sunday and Sunday. He had only to add, that this Bill would not interfere with the intentions of the noble Lord the Member for London (Lord J. Russell), but was merely intended to 149 afford a practical mode of facilitating and cheapening elections.
§ Bill read 2°.