'Challenge to the polls' definitions:

Definition of 'Challenge to the polls'

From: GCIDE
  • Challenge \Chal"lenge\, n. [OE. chalenge claim, accusation, challenge, OF. chalenge, chalonge, claim, accusation, contest, fr. L. calumnia false accusation, chicanery. See Calumny.]
  • 1. An invitation to engage in a contest or controversy of any kind; a defiance; specifically, a summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons. [1913 Webster]
  • A challenge to controversy. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The act of a sentry in halting any one who appears at his post, and demanding the countersign. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A claim or demand. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • There must be no challenge of superiority. --Collier. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Hunting) The opening and crying of hounds at first finding the scent of their game. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Law) An exception to a juror or to a member of a court martial, coupled with a demand that he should be held incompetent to act; the claim of a party that a certain person or persons shall not sit in trial upon him or his cause. --Blackstone [1913 Webster]
  • 6. An exception to a person as not legally qualified to vote. The challenge must be made when the ballot is offered. [U. S.] [1913 Webster]
  • Challenge to the array (Law), an exception to the whole panel.
  • Challenge to the favor, the alleging a special cause, the sufficiency of which is to be left to those whose duty and office it is to decide upon it.
  • Challenge to the polls, an exception taken to any one or more of the individual jurors returned.
  • Peremptory challenge, a privilege sometimes allowed to defendants, of challenging a certain number of jurors (fixed by statute in different States) without assigning any cause.
  • Principal challenge, that which the law allows to be sufficient if found to be true. [1913 Webster]