Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-03-25
DIRECTIONS TO VOTERS.

they will vote, for the first time, under
tie new Law, which is iau'iIiarly known
us the "Sccret Ballet Law" AS Ike
mode Of voting is entirely new, and rs
the provisions oi The Law are such that
many, Notwithstanding The greatest pre-
caution, will be very liable to losc their
votes. We feel il our dny to safe. al
briefly as possible, and Va, comprchen-
sivc!y. the prominent provisions Of the
law. and what will be required Of the
electors We have already expressed
our dislike TO the Law, as a childish,
foolish and embarrassing affair; yet,
while il remains in force, it is the duty
oi every good citizen strictly to comply
with IL.
The Town Council will appoint two
suitable persons TO take charge Of and
deliver the envelopes; these persons
must be at the place OF voting when the
Polls open, and must remain there until
they close. Every voter mus, apply TO
one Of them in person, for an envelope,
and these mtn con only deliver ono Of
each hind Of envelopes to such persons
as they know TO be voters, by an exami.
nation Of lhe Registry, and as they deiiv-
sr The envelopes, they must check the
names on The Registry list The .cnvel
ore in which you will place your ticket
for State officers, " i'll have the coat-of-
arms OF 'he State uron j.; and that in
which you place your ticket for Mem
bers OF the Assembly, will have upon it
the arms of the State, and also the words
"for Senator and Representatives"
Having blamed these, you place
your tickets in their respective cnvel-
opcs, and then we, the gum and press
the envelope together so az TO seal il
bu, you must he careful not to write
your name on the ticket, as the law has
heretofore required, because, il you do,
The ticket will he destroyed without be-
ing counted, when the polls are closed
il you accidentally place two tickets Of
the same kind in tn. same envelope
your ticket will be lest, as it is tho duty
of the Moderator to destroy all such if
the envelope "bears any impression or
device or color, designed TO distinguish
such envelope from others OF the same
kind" il is the duty oi the Moderator 10
reject ii with all its contents"
Having prepared your envelopes, as
you 60 mp 10 the ballot box, you call
out your rame distinctly, the
Moderator repeats it aloud and then
causes the same TO he checked on the
Registry you then hold mp the envel-
( opc SO that the Moderator can distinctly
see that you have but one in your hand,
and also that il bears no mark or device
by which it may be distinguished from
the others. Having gone through with
all this ceremony, you will then depositc
your envelope in the opening on the top
OF the ballot box.
All voters must be careful in preparing
their ballots, not to coil them or make
any impression upon them, by which
they may be distinguished, because all
such votes will be lost.
BE careful ,ha, you place each ticket
in the proper envelope and also that
the gum on the envelope is no, too wet
or not We, enough, as, in either, case it
will not adhere, and if any envelopes
are found even accidentally unscaed
when the box is opened, such envelopes,
with all their contents, will be destroyed,
wilhou, being counted.
3 We are thus particular in stating, as
briefly as possible, III. main features Of
the new law, because We presume that
the majority of voters will not take the
trouble TO read the law carefully through,
and thoroughly understand what they
have TO do. The law is ridiculous. and
The sooner it is repealed, the better it
: will be for all concerned. II affords no
security IN elections which did not pre-
viousIy exist; the ycrplcXitics Of this
system re innumerable, and the chan
ces Of many persone losing their votes,
although they may have deposited them
i'll the ballot box in good faith, are very
great. The above directions must in
all cases be strictly complied with, by
evc"y voter.