ction must take place within nine
days, in the boroughs within four days, after receipt of the writ, but
within these limits the date is fixed in each constituency by the
returning officer. What actually happens on election day is: (1) all
candidates for seats are placed formally in nomination; (2) if within
an hour of the time fixed for the election the number of nominated
candidates does not exceed the number of places to be filled, the
election of these candidates is forthwith declared; and (3) if there
is a contest the election is postponed to a polling day, to be fixed
by the returning officer, in the counties from two to six, and in the
boroughs not more than three, days distant.

[Footnote 133: For the form of the writ see Anson,
Law and Custom of the Constitution, I., 57.]

*98. The Polling.*--Prior to 1872 candidates were nominated _viva voce_
at the "hustings," an outdoor platform erected for the purpose; but
nowadays nominations are made in writing. It is required that a
candidate shall be proposed by a registered elector of the
constituency and that his nomination shall be assented to formally by
nine other electors. The number of uncontested elections is invariably
large (especially in Ireland, where, in many instances, it is useless
to oppose a candidate to the Nationalists), the proportion reaching
sometimes one-fourth, and even one-third. Polling is completed within
an individual constituency during the course of a single day, the
hours being from eight o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock in
the evening, but under the arrangements that have been described it
falls out that a national election is extended invariably through a
period of more than two weeks. The system operates, of course, to the
advantage of the plural voter, who is enabled to present himself at
the polls from day to day in widely separated constituencies. For the
convenience of voters constituencies are divided regularly into
districts, or precincts. When the properly qualified and registered
elector appears at the polls a ballot paper is presented to him
containing the names of the candidates. He takes this to a screened
compartment and places a cross-mark opposite the name or names of
those for whom he desires to vote, after which the paper is deposited
in a box. At the conclusion of the polling, the boxes are transmitted
to the returning officer of the constituency, the votes are counted,