Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-06-06
Written for the Sentinel
ELECTION LAW,
For the Parish of Orleans.

bAAS "a ShtiSN y dfSHJ "a ~ PNS'S N"AhNe'
of the State a Bill of denominations, but I have
seen no analysis of the law, which pointed out
and held up to the gaze of the citizens for
their consideration and condemnation, the
denominations and absurdities alleged to be
contained in the Election Law for the parish
Of Orleans passed by our last Legislature.
Absurduy lst. The law says there shall be
two places for holding the polls in each and
every election precinct in the city of New Or
leans, except in the seventh precinct, in which
there shall be three. That one of the polls in
each precinct, except the seventh, shall be
known as number One and the other as num-
Der Two and all the voters residing in each
precinct, whose surnames begin with any ini-
tiaI letter ranging from A to K, both inclusive,
shall only be entitled to vote at poll number
One and all the voters whose surnames be-
gin with any initial letter ranging from l. to
z, both inclusive, shall only be entitled TO vote
at poll number Two
In the seventh precinct there are to be polls
numbered One Two and Three and all the
voters Of precinct seventh whose surnames be-
gin with any initial letter ranging from a to
| G., both inclusive, must vote at poll number
One or they can't vote at all; and all those.
whose surnames begin with any initial letter
ranging from II to N, both inclusive, must vote
at poll number Two or not vote at all; and
all those whose surnames begin with any mi
tial letter ranging from 0 to Z, both inclusive,
must vote at poll number Three otherwise
they can't vote at all!
say, all this is absurd, because no good
can come from it, and there can and must arise
from it a great deal of annoyance, delay and
gexation to the citizens of New Orleans in de.
posting their suffrage in the ballot box.
The different precincts and the ditferen. polls
in each precinct were originally established
for the convenience Of the citizens, that there
might be ballot box near the home of every
man, affording each an opportunity of putting
in his vote with very little delay and i~nterrup-
ton ofhis private business. But how will tins
complex election machinery of the Legislature
act upon the wise and convenient arrangements
as they previously existed? A. has heretofore
had e ballot box close TO his door, and never
lost five minutes in voting, There is one there
now, but the Central Board of Commissions
ers have named this ballot box number Two
and now he must travel several squares to find
box number One to vote in. When he ar
rives there, perhaps he finds some unlettered
individual trying to vote in box number One
lie does not know how to spell his name, and
it is one of those curious sounding names of
doubtful spelling which may commence with a
K or a c, or an S or a z, or in fact with most
any letter, and the commissioners are discuss
ing among themselves whether the voter has a
right TO vote at box number Two or box
number One : and they finally conclude that
he must 60 10 box number Two All this
time A. has been waiting with a number of
others who do know how to spell their names,
and know they have a right TO vote at that
box, and no other. While they are thus de-
layed, squeezed tight in a crowd, on a hot day.
with one hand in their pocket holding on to
their purse, and with the other grasping their
vote, they will in all probability praise the
wisd0ns of Senator HYAMs and the State Lee
gislature-the one for originating and the 9TH
er for e%nacting this convenient and excellent
Election Law!!
Meanwhile, the man who has the name of
doubtful spelling, has gone to box number
Two and there he encounters the same tFou.
BILE and difficulty in voting that he did at num-
Der 'One;' and the commissioners at number
Two after consultation and discussion, may
think and decide that he is only entitled to vote
at box number One'-and they send him off
again! This man too, by this time, isin a pro,
per mood for a keen appreciation of the beau~
tiful workings of this Election Law for the
parish of Orleans.
The best way to avoid all this trouble and
annoyance will be, for all the citizens of New
Orleans to go before the ~notaries and swap
residences. Let all those who live near box
number One whose names commence with
initial letters ranging from L to z inclusive,
exchange residences with those living near box
number Two whose names commence with
initial letters ranging from A to K inclusive.
All those who have names Of doubtful spelling
| would advise to fix some way of spelling
names before the election day, and to be
certain to tn it with . letter which will
- A.