The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-12-04
PLAN FOR SECURING
MINORITY REPRESENTATION,
TINE JUDGES or Our SUPERIOR COURT.

Suppose the State of Illinois to be about to
elect a House Of Representatives of eightY-6ve
members, and that the election 10 to be what is
called the general ticket system-the whole
State being considered as a single district
l. Let each party in the State intending, as
such, 10 seek representation in the house, BY
it's general convention, certify to the Secretary
Of STATE, on or before the day Of the election, its
platform Of principles, its distinctive name or
designation, and a list of its candidates, which
may contain any nrmber Of names, not less than
eighty FIVE.
2. At the election let each voter cast one
ballot containing, first, at its head, the name or
designation of the party whose platform he IA.
vors and for which be votes secondly, the
names Of the persons for whom he votes being
those certif d as the candidates Of the party, or
those Of such other persons, not named on the
list of candidates of any o:her party, as such
voter may prefer.
8. When the election is over, let the votes
be transmitted TO the Secretary Of State, Who,
With the - and - shall constitute a board
Of csnVassers whose duty iE shall be to sort and
count the votes cast, and 10 declare the result
Of the election.
4On receiv ing the votes from all the to WINS, let
number Of votes cast for all parties throughout
the State, and the number cast also for each
party, and fix quota of the plumber Of votes
entitled TO one representative, by dividing the
total vote Of the State BY eighty -Gve.
8. Let each party be represented in the house
by d number Of members proportioned to the
number of votes cast by It, such number to be
determined a. follows; Divide the vote Of
each party by the quota fixed. as above, thus
giving the number to which it is entitled up N
full quotas If the numbers thus determined be
less in the aggregate than eighty five, let the
house be completed by giving additional repre-
sentatives to the parties having the largest frac-
lions unrepresented, until the requisite number
be obtained.
8, The persons to be declared elected are to
be, Tor the several parties, those who shall have
received the highest number of votes.
III.
l. Let the uhols State be divided into dis
tricts, as nearly As may be Of the same popula
ton, bythrOwing together adjoining counties, the
districts to be OF such size as 70 entitle each ID
q representation of at least - membere Of all
parties.
2. Let each party, BY its general convention,
/ certify its platform and its distinctive name al
designation 20 the Secretary Of State, as before
provided, and let il also, BY its district conven-
top, in each district which it DESTROYS to con-
test nominate and certify TO the Secretary Of
State q list Of candidates for such district
which may cbntain any number Of names Of per
sons eligible in such district, not less than the
mum Oer Of representatives to which such districl
is entitled.
8. At the election let each voter cast one bal
lot containing, first, at its head, the name Of
designation Of the party whose platform be ia
vOrs and for whicI he votes secondly, the
names Of the persons for whom he votes, beins
the persons certified IS the candidates of hii
party for the district in which slch voter Il en-
titled to vote, or such other persons, eligible al
representatives in such district, and not named
on the list Of candidates Of any other party, al
such voter may prefer.
4. When the election is over let the votes be
transmitted to the board Of canvassers above
provided for, and let the board thereupOn de
termlne the number Of votes cast for each par
ty, both in the whole State and in each district
as well as the total number of votes cast for al
parties. Let the board then fl a quota bv Gli
viding the total vote Of the State for all partie.
by eighty-fve.
5. Let the number OF members, to which eacI
party is entitled in the whole State, be then de
termined by dividing the total vote cast for sucl
party in the State by the quota fixed as above
completing the house, if necessary, by giving al
largest unrepresented fractions. To ascertain
the number Of members for each party in tn
several districts let the vote cast for each part
in such d 7tricts respectively be divided BY tn,
quota fixed as above, thus determining the mum
Der of each party elected upon full quotas, an
then complete the house by giving to e,ch par
" the number Of additional members necess ar
to make up is full representation, appOrtionin
the same TO the districts having the largest III
represented fractions belonging to such party
g. Having ascertained the number Of mem
bers to which each party is entitled in each di,
trict, let the persons to stand the repre- ents
tives thereof be determined by selecting fror
, the persons voted for by the several psrtie
, those having the highest number Of votes, unit
8 the requisite number be obtained for each par
ty.
Z. In all cases, where two more persons,
{ whom . part are to be selected to stand re
representatives., shall have received equal votes
let the choice be made between them BY 10
to be cast by the board Of canvassers.