The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-24
THE AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM.
SOME OF ITS ESSENTIAL AND LEAD
ING FEATURES.
How the Secrecy Of the Ballot Is Pro-
tected-Ths Doors Practically Closed
Against the Bribery OF Voters-The
Printing OF Tickets by the State.
/. p. cnster in tho indianapolis sentinel.

with present for the consideration oil your
readers the essential and general features
OF what is known as the australian sys-
tenn OF voting" thus named because OF
its first adoption by the Australian colo
MES.
The law was framed necessarily radical,
in order to overcome the extreme length
TO which the evil of corrupt elections had
driied, and 1t did overcome the evils, and
elections became what they are intended
20 be-the registering OF tho will Of the
voters, irrespective OF any pecuniary or
other consideration.
The main features OF the system are:
|. Printing and distributing OF the bal
lots at public expense.
. Complete secrecy in casting the bal
lot
g. Regulation Of the methods OF choos-
ing candidates.
L. Defining bribery.
g. Defining undue influence.
O. Limiting the amount to DO expended
by candidates, the amount varying accord
ing 10 tho importance OF the office sought,
and compelling a report, under oath, OF
such expenditures.
Under our present law tho party having
the greater volume of doodle" can ef-
iectualy turn q minority vote on principle
into ajonty vote on principle aud valu-
able consideration combined, by the
"blocks OF five" method, and tho law is
valuelcss " prevent it. take il that in
this State the Democratic party will profit
20 q greater extent from the adoption Of
the secret ballot system than will the Re-
publicans. especially In the near future,
because from aud after the 4th OF March
next their term of national oiico-holding
will have expired, and this party naturally
being Tho poor mans party is placed at a
decided disadvantage when we come 10
consider the financial status OF tho two
great political organizations. Hence the
Democracy have everything ~ gain and
nothing to lose in the adoption Of an IL.
iectunl election law. But Il must be Of
iectual no halfway measure will suffice.
When The Legislature takes up this
question II is 20 be hoped II will concern
trntc upon measure that will meet all re-
qupmgnts, aud II any feature proves OBJ
noXious and cumbersome without render
ing any material benefit II can be- repealed
much easier than now features can bc
added.
The irst feature, which Il necessary for
the certain success OF the second feature
secrecy is the printing and distribution Of
the ballots The law already provides for
part OF the machinery OF election. but
practically leaves this the driving wheel,
as Il were, IN lho hands Of party orgnnza-
ton, Of which IL t-city assumes the exist
cnce ior the purpose OF filling the functions
thus not assumed 10y the State. This feat
ufc. while II incup additional expense 10
carry ii out, II essential 10 the secrecy Il
the ballot, because a party worker hold
ing ballots can IN a majority OF eases, pro-
will ulCn The average voter 10 accept his
ticket aud deposit II without further ado,
because Il hc quibbles aud undertakes 10
secure one Of the opposite political tickets
be kno,Y that he jsimmod,a,oly suspected
aud iu Zinc cases oui Of ten will vote tho
old party ticket, which he has been iu tho
habit OF voting without question. There
fore. tho workinginen under partisan om-
ploytr would nil be- subject 90 "a species
OF intimidation aud "floatcrs" bn sought
after by the captains Of the blocks 81
FIVE Another evil that would be- over
come by the state doing the printing h that
OF double voting. Stuiiug Of ballot boxes
would ho prevented, because only one bal
lot could bc secured by the voter, and II
he Inadvertently spells that ono lac can
only secure another 10y returning tho one
thus spoiled iur cancellation. This u n
nccr AIRY feature which should be iucnr.
poraicd In the bin.
Tho printing aud Distribution Of the bal.
lots hy The State renders tho assessment oi
candidates Tor office unnecessary, except
IN minor dcgrc A. IL Is, no man can
secure q nomination without the payment
81 % sun varying with the importance q
the office sought, ~ the Piled ang OF his
honor a. ltF a..Na a
legislation. Therefore, any law which
leaves this feature out will be- worse than
useless 10 remedy the evils under which
We labor.
The second feature Of the system pro-
ydcs ior the casting Of the ballots la ahso-
luiC frcrccy. To render this certain. a
room must ho provided in each voting
precinct, large enough 10 admit oi the
voters entering and preparing their bal
lots, ul well ls tie accommodation q the
different election onico.a This room
should have 70 duor Tor entrance aud an
other iOr exit V possible, but one door
could h mair to suffice for all practical
putpOsrA At the side or vt ono end of
The nom, booths 90 sections, such ~ arc
illustrated tho bead of this article. must
b. placed. Wherein the voter can step, and
ON sfcIt before him, the work ontrrly
tcrccuoi from view, prepare biz ballot 10
vii ho lrFgfIhci hereinafter
lhDto booths could be- maio chenply.
and sD constructed as 10 DC easily placed
IN position. aud after the election stored
away i0r future use Ia tht share SIX Of
eight could be- erected 10 a room, aud n,
many yoieu thus provided with com.
parimcnH Tor making their ballots 10
pwtUni one man from showing o. telling
hls urIghbOr, Who might lo next a. him
preparing his ballot how hp votes, penal.
ties must b. prescribed iur such seton
Tie thW ivatufe-ohouting II randi.
daics-cAn D. loft a' al pfscut, except ~
o. independent candidates. or some Other
mode adopted. This " a minor feature.
not essential to Tive successful working ol
the law Ia other f,tpccu. Ia England
candidates are chosen w petition. thr
number of names ~ bona Gle voters of
the district In which the candidate Il Il
stand depending upon What Office ia undor
consideration.
10 prevent colonization " yo,er, reg.
traiion feature would perhaps h necessary
IN which case basis Tor nomination 4
provided. Nv Instance, sections zorro
sponlbVg 10 the following might be incor
poalcd in the bill
. Section !. In all places where the rcsil
tritOn " citizens entitled 10 vote ~ ~
election Is authorized 10y law, the regisifn
ton should take place on the second aud
third Tuesdays OF October next preceding
the election.
section 2. The registration officers shal