At the time and place fixed in the order, the creditors, or so many of them as are present in person or by proxy, may proceed by ballot to choose an assignee to succeed the clerk, and the clerk shall not be eligible. At the election each creditor shall be entitled to cast one vote, but no person shall be regarded as chosen unless he receives the votes of creditors representing a majority of the gross indebtedness, and is also voted for by one-third of all the creditors. No creditor shall be permitted to vote upon any claim against the assignor or assignors unless the same is verified by the affidavit of the creditor to be just and reasonable and wholly unpaid to the extent claimed, setting forth the true consideration thereof and that the same is not, to the best of his knowledge and belief, subject, to any legal or equitable claim, recoupment, counterclaim, or set-off, which if allowed, would reduce the debt below the amount claimed.