The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL.
A FREE ELECTION AND A FAIR
COUNT.


COUNT
A correspondent, writing from the capi-
tai Of Arkansas TO TuE ArrEiL, in the in
tercst OF u free ballot and u fair count, asks
how this desirable contamination is 10 be
reached with the least amount oi friction,
expense and trouble. 10 points ont that
every known cXpcdicnt has so fan failed,
and that even Federal supervisors have
not always prevented the preparation OF
fraud. This admitted, and agreeing with
our friend that the man who would stua
ballot.box or rob one Is the worst
OF criminals, and could not be punished
too severely, Tnr ArrEAL secs no way Of
foilng such villains except by the Austria
liam plan, which Is now in vogue in Eng
land, in Massachusetts, and in Kentucky
applying only TO municipal elections, how
ever, in The latter State. by tho pruyis
ions Of the Kentucky act, which was ap
proved by Gov. Bucknor In February Of
this year, the ballots are to be printed
with stubs aud bound in books, the stubs
forming n record Of the votes east. Tho
clerk is required TO enter the voters name
and residence ON the stub, then tear the
ballot Oft, write his own name on the back
and hand II thus inlorscd TO the voter, 10
whom lac must also hand AN envelope or
paper bag, In which the ballot Ia 90 be
placclaiicr being marked. DEMONSTRATION
of candidates aud The printing aud custody
OF the books Of stubs aud ballots az placed
In the hands Of the Mayor candidate
for election 10 a ward office eau be- regis.
tered on the written petition vi ten regis.
tered voters aud the payment oi 81, n can
didatc for the city nj large on the written
petition Of fifty voters and the payment Of
$50. Nominations close ten DAYS before
the election. The Mayor is required 10
Hct mp Mt each voting place wooden COM
partmcnis. one Tor each rs registered
voter, or fraction thereof These rpmpart-
mcnts are 10 be- six feet In hight and about
three feet square, one side 10 open and
shut a. a door, with q narrow shelf affixed
to the opposite side. Tho clerk Of
each precinct Is 10 put into each Of
these compartments lead pencils hung 10y
strings. The voter, "whcn furnished
with ballot and envelope .or bag. must
step alone into ono Of the compartment,
and close the door behind him. and while
within the same hc shall put on his ballot,
after each name Of the candidates whom
he prefers, a pencil mark Ia the shape oi
nm obliquc cross" Should be- iuadvcri-
emily spoil q ballot ho may return IL. aud
receive one other ballot the spoiled ballot
10 be- preserved by the CloJk and the tact
noted 10y writing ihc word spoiled" ON
the stub. Whom a voter n,ows himself "a
he blind, and " found 10 bc such by the
concurrence OF the Judges Of Election 900,
the sheriff Of the precinct, the Clerk q
required 10 accompany him TO one Of th.
compartment. and mako the ballot at hi,
diclaiion. Il is provided that the vote
shall not occupy the compartment mon
than three minutes. As hc leaves Il h
Is 10 hand bis ballot folded nn.
within the envelope or paper BAG. 10 IN
Judges, who iu Die presence drop Il int
the ballot.box, vhDpupln the voter Is d
once TO Withdraw from the room. Il
also required that lho voting place shall b
10 arranged as 10 leave clear space d
lfy feet between tho inclosuro IN vh.c
the voting Is done and those waiting thc
turns To vote, and the Sheriff aud polio
are required 10 keep all pcr-ons cxccp, M
oiliccrs Of election, those voting and III
candidates or agents Of candidate, at th.
distance from the Enclosure Il may I
objected to this plan that Il Is complica'cD
Troublesome aud expensive. Bu, such q
objection will weigh ~ nothing again
the great gain Of fnrc ballot and IA
count This act puts Il beyond the pow,
ofthc ballot-box suffer or ballo,-box rol
Der TO ply his Infamous trade, and II assur
each citizen that his vote will count o. /
intended ON Que side or the other Of
party. or merely local controversy.
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