134 THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, Of which all persons are hereby requested to take notice and govern themselves accordingly. Given under my hand at this day of in the year A B Returning Officer. Nomina- tion of Can- didates. Deposit. Poll. Candidates are nominated in writing signed by 25 electors. The nomination paper is not valid unless accompanied by the written consent of the candidate, except when he is absent from the Province, in which case such absence is to be stated in the nomination paper. One of the persons filing the nomination is required to make oath before the Returning Officer that he knows the several persons who have signed the nomination paper to be electors duly qualified to vote; that they signed the paper in his presence; and that the consent of the candidate was signed in his presence, or that the candidate was absent from the Province. A sum of 200 dollars also has to be deposited with the Returning Officer. This sum is returned to the can- didate if he is elected, or if he polls half as many votes as those given the successful candidate : otherwise the sum is to belong to the Dominion and to be applied by the Returning Officer in defraying the expenses of the election” If a poll is necessary, it takes place on the day fixed. The voting takes place by ballot, and the poll remains open from nine in the morning till five in the afternoon. On the close of the poll the Returning Officer counts the votes and declares that candidate who is found to have a majority of votes elected. If an equality of votes exists between two or more candidates, the Returning Officer may give a casting vote. R. S.C. c. 18, 8. 8, ss. 19-23,