members of the legislature were elected by popular vote annually. as such, they were the only state officials elected by popular vote. the constitution allowed that "all freemen of the age of twenty-one years, who have been inhabitants of any one county within this state twelve months immediately preceding the day of any election, and shall have paid public taxes shall be entitled to vote for members of the house of commons for the county in which he resides". it also allowed "that all freemen, of the age of twenty-one years, who have been inhabitants of any one county within the state twelve months immediately preceding the day of any election and possessed of a freehold within the same county of fifty acres of land for six months next before, and at the day of election, shall be entitled to vote for a member of the senate." restrictions were placed on voting for town or district members, i.e. "that all persons possessed of a freehold in any town in this state, having a right of representation and also all freemen who have been inhabitants of any such town twelve mouths next before and at the day of election, and shall have paid public taxes, shall be entitled to vote for a member to represent such town in the house of commons: -- provided always, that this section shall not entitle any inhabitant of such town to vote for members of the house of commons, for the county in which he may reside, nor any freeholder in such county, who resides without or beyond the limits of such town, to vote for a member for said town.