Art. 37. The register for the first series of votes remains open for three days at least, and for six hours every day.
No Deputy can be elected by the first series of votes, except by an absolute majority of the electors of the district and department, who have voted during the three days.
Art. 38. The third day and the hour appointed for voting having expired, the register is declared closed; the votes are summed up; the total number and the number given to each candidate are published, and the candidates who have obtained an absolute majority are announced.
If all the Deputies have not been elected by the first scrutiny of votes, the result is published and posted immediately; and after an interval of three days, a second series of votes is taken during the following days, in the same manner and under the same formalities and delays. The candidates who obtain a relative majority at the second voting are elected.
Art. 39. Before closing the registers at each voting, the President demands publicly whether there is any appeal against the manner in which the votes have been inscribed. If objections are made, they are to be entered on the official report of the election, and the registers, closed and sealed, are forwarded to the Chamber of Deputies, who will decide.
If there are no appeals, the registers are destroyed on the instant, and the official report alone is forwarded to the Chamber.
The official report and registers are signed by all the members of the Board.
If there are grounds for a provisional decision, the Board has the power of pronouncing it.
Art. 40. The President is invested with full power to maintain the freedom of the elections. The civil and military authorities are bound to obey his requisitions. The President maintains silence in the hall in which the election is held, and will not allow any individual to be present who is not an elector or a member of the Board.
Arrangements common to the two Chambers.