The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-01-31
Correspondence Baifimors r"aa,y Union.
PLAN FOR A NEW REGISTRATION
l2rH DISTRICT. BALTIMORE CoUSTY.

i-ru DIstHitr, BALTIMORE COUNTY,
January 2Gth. 1850.
Msssrs. Editor. II have plan 20 suggest by
the adoption Of which. think. many Of the frauds
now perpstrated upon the ballot box can be done
away with. have been revolving this subject in
my mind. and think this the most .ure and ,imr!e
form. which. II made the law of the State. would
entirely 10 away with fraud AMI give US "a pure
ballot box forever in the future
LIT. Let every Register be provided with cards.
numbered from one 60 ~ many voters lac may
register in his precinct in the city or county. The
number and name, with the age. ward and pre-
cinct must be written this card the same as il
appears on the registration book the voter retain
ing the card. This would save a deal Of time by
the voter presenting his card nj the polling win
dow. when the judge would merely have 20 refer
TO the number on his book and IL found 10 cor
respond with that ON the card would obviaie the
necessity Of looking over long list and inquiring
how 20 spell the name. &c. II often happens tina,
voters are deprived Of their votes by their name.
being spelled or entirely left oil Of the list.
I'd. These cards would answer for transfers from
one ward or district 20 another. or from one cOun-
~ TO another, and would save the expense Of
issuing certificates. In case Of minors becoming
voters in any precinct or district let the numbers
be increased, and in case Of removal or death let
their names be stricken from the roll and their
places flisd by new voters. Al the election. IL n
doubt should arise, let the judge place the No. Of
the voter the ballot before putting il in the box
which would prevent "stufins" or counting any
more votes than registered or numbered. Then
make the system pay its own expense by re'luir.
ing every voter 90 pay 10 cents for his voting card
always presenting his card at the voting place in
his district or precinct. IL voter should refuse
TO pay for his card he should not be allowed to
register or 20 vote. This plan would proven,
voting on dead mems names aud do away with
the repeating operation. II man who il hfty
years Of age, with No. 20 on his card, should die.
any one presenting the same card at the polling
place could be easily detected. and the pIas would
stop illegal vsting in greater measure than ever
before. 4. W.
I'VE don't zee how the plan suggested by our
correspondent could ever be made to work with
satisfaction, and II would be but short time be.
fore Il would become ss fruitful source Of fraud
as the present system. Suppose . man should
lose or pislay his card. lie would then be de-
prived Of his ballot and would have no redress
The present system Of registration Is good enough,
provided none but Loasa and eOr.J,eisni mea are
appointed registration officers. but so long as men
are selected for these positions simply as reward
for their services TO the dOminan, party and with
out reference to their qualifications. We may look
for q continuance Of the base frauds which have
50 long disgraeej our county and staie.-Eps.
USIoS.