Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-11-16
OUR STATE ELECTION.
Some Sensible and Timely Suggestions
as to Improvement in the Manner Of
Holding Them.

The Psninsiiidr Nsios and Adpsrfiser.
(Which we wish had a shor err name, } in
Its Issue Of last Saturday says;
A few changes in the manner of no ding
our elections and Of canvassing the vote,
are suggested, which, IL ad0pttd, will
materially facilitate the casting Of the
vote and the tallying out. In the first
place, the names OF all assessed citizens
ought to be published In the county papers,
to the end that II any man has been
omitted who ought to be taxed, his name
may be put on the assessment list aud
Tins the burden of taxation equalized.
Next. the polls should be 40 arranged
and protected by railing, az that there IL
ample room for the challengers as well as
the inspectors and judges, and always an
open passage for the elector with easy in
gress and egress uuObstructed. This
would prevent the crOwding and cOnse-
queut III feeling always seen ut the polls in
country towns. Then IL the inspector, as
In some States, calls the roll Of voters In
alphabetical order and each as his name
is called steps forward and casts his ballot
or If absent when called, come In at the
last with the miscellaneous voters and
II at the same time the Judges should
count out the vote each hour much Of
the valuable time that Is now lost to bust
ness men, would be saved, while the gal
Ions OF whisky that are now drunk under
one plea and another, would be uncalled
for, at least, by the better class Of The
community. A majority OF the men
whom we have seen, Mt sundry times and
10 divers places, engaged 10 a political
"push," crowdiug and elbowing, now
this way, now that, all talking, to no pur-
pose, all excited, to no good result, would
be ashamed to be found in like position
under any other circumstances and why
need II be sol moments thought will
demonstrate to any man that this, a neces-
sary duty Of every American citizen, can
by a common sense Arrangement Of the
poll, be done with decency and in order,
and the result of anything less than a
thousand votes can DO officially stated In
less than three hours after the polls have
closed.
These are some Of the reforms which we
hone soon TO sec brought about 10 the
method Of conducting our elections. IL
there Is any duty pertaining TO citizenship
which should be conducted "decenty and
In ORDER II is certainly this the highest,
the exercise Of the greatest prerogative
secured to us by our great government.
OF all days election day should ind every
man on his best behavior, clothed and In
his right mind, and assuming for the
time, II he hasn't It naturally, the dignity
COMFORTING with the occasion. We know
That much of the turbu ence an confusion
seen at the polls on election day are
nothing more than foam, froth and eiler-
vescenee, and on casual view might APP
pear harmless enough. But II is not really
so. lis effect is demoralizing, and its ten
] Napntr T. ia ku uofhiIfrf.a Of
men and to lessen the resp, ct Of all for the
county and institutions under Shl'h such
scenes occur. We hope and believe thai
these things are merely incidental and mol
Inherent, and that as the people become
better and more universally educated
their conception Of the dignity and impor
lance of this the freeman's right will lea
to that decency and decorum that shall
make the conduct and association of cleo
ton day as pleasant and as pure as thosl
Of the Sabbath aud the sanctuary.