New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-11
THE AUS7RALTIN SYSTEM

A correspondent who has seen references to
the Australian system Of voting, asks us to
explain what il is. II is the method OF ballot
ing employed not only in that country, but in
England and Canada. being often called by the
name of the country of its origin 1t had been
in use there ten years before its employment
in test ballots in Manchester and Stafford led
to its introduction into England. The essen
tial principle is the same everywhere. Each
voter is provided with a ballot printed at Gov
eminent expense and furnished to him by the
election officers, which contains the names of
all the candidates for the Office for which the
vote is to be cast. In England and South
Australia the voter marks with cross the
name for which his ballot is TO be counted.
whilo IN New South Wales and in Victoria he
marks of all the names but that for which he
wishes to be recorded. The ballots are fur
nished to voters under extraordinary precau
tons. In an English Parliamentary election,
the voter receives ballot from the election
officer stamped on both sides with an Official
stamp, which is kept secret and cannot be
used second time in seven years; a number
has been placed on the back which is also on the
stub of the ballot remaining with the officer.
where the voters number on the register is
also. The law requires separate compart-
ment for every $50 votes. Any ballots that
arc spoiled or unused must be accounted for
by the election officers, who are also sworn to
secrecy as to the way in which electors have
voted. Every stage OF the process has been
carefully regulated by the law, which places
besides, elabc rate restrictions upon election
expenses and provides against impcrsonation
The differences Of detail in other countries
where the system is in force are not important
The motive leading to the adoption OF this
method was by securing a secret ballot, to
diminish the corruption and intimidation that
prevailed under the "viva vocc" system Of
voting In this country, where the secret bal
lot already exists. the principal motive leading
to the framing of the bills now before the New
York Legislature. for example, was to check
the abuses growing out of the system OF assess
ments levied to pay for printing, and especially
distributing the ballots. There are difficulties
In applying the method here, as THE TRIBUNE
has already pointed out, because Of the large
number of Offices to be filled by election, and
the amount Of labor which this plan would de-
volvc upon the voter in preparing his ballots.
This would be increased by the fact that the
number of nominations would almost inevitably
be greater than it is now, the proposed bills
making it possible for a comparatively small
number of persons tc secure the placing OF
name on the ballot Men of all parties seem
TO be agreed that the public treasury should
hear the expense of printing and furnishing
the ballots as well as of receiving and counting
them. This could be brought abOnt without
altering our present system Of voting. The
English system undoubtedly contains many
excellent features, and if any Of them can be
successfully adapted to the conditions existing
here. every good citizen will be glad TO see
them in force.
American ingenuity ought to be able to de-
wise patent balot-box that will make fraud
in the counting Of votes, at least, impHcticablo
Several promising beginnings have already
been made in this direction. Here is another
branch of the subject for the Legislature to
consider. One Of these days we shall look
backward with a smile at the thought that at n
time when the most Ingenious appliances for
preventing frrud prevailed in almost every
department Of life, we carried on the vital
business Of voting by loosely dropping ballots
in an ordinary box in the free and easy style
Of twenty centuries ago.