ee rooms or
for meetings any licensed premises, or any premises where food or
drink is ordinarily sold for consumption on the premises, or any club
premises where intoxicating liquor is supplied to members. In the
event of an illegal practice, payment, employment or hiring, committed
or done inadvertently, relief may be given by the High Court, or by an
election court, if the validity of the election is questioned on
petition; but unless such relief is given (and it will be observed
that it cannot be given for a _corrupt_ as distinguished from an
illegal practice), an infringement of the act may void the election
altogether. The validity of the election may be questioned by election
petition. Indeed, this is the only method when it is sought to set
aside the election on any of the usual grounds, such as corrupt or
illegal practices, or the disqualification of the candidate at the
date of election. Election petitions against county councillors and
members of other local bodies (borough councillors, urban and rural
district councillors, members of school boards and boards of
guardians) are classed together as municipal election petitions, and
are heard in the same way, by a commissioner who must be a barrister
of not less than fifteen years' standing. The petition is tried in
open court at some place within the county, the expenses of the court
being provided in the first instance by the Treasury, and repaid out
of the county rates, except in so far as the court may order them to
be paid by either of the parties. If a candidate is unseated a casual
vacancy is created which has to be filled by a new election. A county
councillor is required to accept office by making and subscribing a
declaration in the prescribed form that he will duly and faithfully
perform the duties of the office, and that he possesses the necessary
qualification. The declaration may be made at any time within three
months after notice of election. If the councillor does not make it
within that time, he is liable to a fine the amount of which, if not
determined by bye-law of the council, is L25 in the case of an
alderman or councillor, and L50 in the case of the chairman. Exemption
may, however, be claimed on the ground of age, physical or mental
incapacity, previous service, or payment of the fine within five
years, or on the ground that the claimant was nominated without his
conse