The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-23
IRON-CLAD ELECTION BILL
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ANDREWS.
Full Text of Strong Measure for the Pro-
lection of the Ballot Box, Embracing
she Main Features of the
Australian system.

The following is the election bill intro
duced in the senate day by Senator
Andrews:
bill for an act concerning elections, pro-
viding penalties for the violation of the same
and repeating all laws in conflict Herewith:
BE ~ enacted by the General assembly Of the
State OF Indiana:
Section 1. The county commissioners of
each county in this state shall, at their first
session after the taking effect of this act, di-
| vide the townships OF their respective counties
| into election precincts and establish the bOun-
| daries of the same. Such board of commits
| sioners shall designate at least one place of
! holding elections in each township, and every
| township in which only one place of holding
| elections is designated shall constitute a pre-
! cinct. There shall he but one voting place in a
| precinct. No precinct shall contain more than
| 200 electors. Ii at any election hereafter 200
| or more votes shall be cast at any voting
| place, it shall be the duty of the inspector of
elections In such precinct TO report the same to
| the board OF county commissioners. who shall,
at their next regular meeting, divide such pre-
cinct as equally as possible 50 that the new
! precincts formed thereof shall each contain not
more than 200 electors, and shall report such
division TO the clerk OF the circuit court OF
such county and To the secretary of state, to-
gether with the estimated number of votes in
each OF the new precincts. III such board
voter of the county may apply for a writ of
mandamus TO compel a performance of this
duty.
Sec. 2. The county commissioners of any
county may change the boundaries of any pre-
cinct within such county, or divide any pre-
cinct into two or more precincts, or consolidate
two or more precincts into one, or change any
place OF holding elections whenever public
convenience or the public good may require It:
provided, that no such change division or con-
cha 10 flor t,a I'M
such commissioners next preceding any eec-
ton and prOUidet further. that no such change,
division or consolidation shall be valid without
giving due notice, at least one month before
any election, either by publication in the news
paper having the largest circulation IN such
county or by posters put up in four of the most
public places IN each precinct; and prOUided
further that no precinct shall be enlarged so as
to contain more than 200 electors.
Sec. 3. Township trustees shall, by virtue of
their office, be inspectors OF election IL the pre-
cincts in which they respectively reside, and
shall, prior to the opening OF the polls in such
| precinct, appoint as judges of election two
| qualified electors OF such precinct who shall
| have been freehOlders and resident household
ers therein for at least one year next preceding
such election, and who are members of diner
| ent political parties and of the parties which
cast the highest number OF votes IN such pre-
cinctatthe next preceding general election; pro-
CideG, that If at least one week or more prior 10
committee of either of the two parties that cast
| the largest number OF votes in the state at the
| last general election shall designate a member
of such party as judge he shall be appointed
and such judges, together with the Inspector,
shall constitute board of election, No person
shall be eligible as a member of the board OF
election who has anything OF value bet or
Wagered on the result of such election, or who
is candidate to be voted for at such election,
or who is father, iather-in-law, son, son-in-law,
grandfather, grandson, brother, brothern-law,
uncle, nephew, first or second cousin of any
candidate at 'such election. Ii at any time
before, or during an election il shall be made
to appear to any Inspector, by the affidavit of
two or more qualified electors OF the precinct,
that either of the Judges is disqualified under
the provisions of this act he shall at once re-
move such judge and I'LL the place with
qualified person OF the same political party as
the judge removed; and in case such disquali-
fed judge shall have taken the oath of office
hereinafter prescribed, the inspector shall place
such oath and the atfidvit bet the next
grand jury OF the county.
Sec. 4. Whenever any board of CO., ty com
missoners shall designate more than . e pre-
cinct in any township it shall at the June term
of said board next preceding any election ap-
point in each precinct In which no township
trustee resides as inspector of such election
some qualified voter of such precinct who shall
have been freeholder and a resident house
holder in such precinct for at least one year
next preceding such election. Such board OF
county commissioners shall hold special ses-
sion one week before each election, and shall
fill all vacancies that may have occurred IN the
office of inspector, and shall FL any vacancy
occurring thereafter at any regular or called
session OF the board previous TO the election.
Such appointed inspector shall before the time
of opening the election in his precinct appoint
two election judges if the same have not al
ready been appointed as hereinbefore pro-
Vided in the same manner and under the same
requirements as provided for township trus.
tees acting as inspectors; and sueh judges and
inspectors shall constitute the board of cleo
tion for such precinct.
If any member Of an election board shall fail
TO appear at the hour appointed for the open
ing OF the polls the remainder Of the board
shall select member of his political party to
serve in bis stead: prOUided, that If the quail
fed electors of his party present at the polls
shall nominate a qualified person for such
vacancy, such nominee shall be appointed
Ii none of the members OF an election board
shall appear at the hour appointed for open
ing the polls the qualified electors present
shall elect board viva voce, as nearly as pos
sible in conformity with the provisions hereof
Sec. 3. Such board of election shall appoint
as poll clerks two qualified electors OF such
precinct one from each OF the two parties that
cast the largest vote in the state at the last
general election: provide !, that ii four days or
more prior TO such election the chairman of the
county central committee OF either of the two
pdrteS lnaI CAST ltlt largest uuluOSI Vi fOtts IN
the state at the last general election shall
designate a member of such party poll clerk
such nominee shall be appointed.
Sec. 6. (Same as sec. 469l, Revised Stat
utes.)
Sec. Z. In all cases in which appointments
of election officers are required herein TO be
made from certain political parties, in case
there shall be two more factions of either of
such parties, each OF which claims TO represent
such party, the person or authority herein au-
thorized to make such appointment shall de-
eide which faction is the representative of such
party and appoint accordingly.
Sec. s. Same as sec. 4,693, Revised Stat
utes.)
Sec. 9. tsame as sec. 4,694, Revised Stat
utes.)
Sec. 10. (sams as sec. 4,695, Revised Stat
utes.)
Sec. II. The board of county commissioners
of each county shall provide, at the expense of
the county. two ballot boxes, one painted red
and one painted white, for each precinct; each
ballot box shall have at least two locks. and be
otherwise so constructed as to contribute toward
the prevention of fraud.
Sec. II. (Same sec. 1907, Revised Stat
utes.l
Sec 1S (Same ss chap. LXV, laws 1856, D.
176.)
Sec. IA. (Same as sec. 4,699, Revised Statutes.)
Sec. Is. (Same as sec. 400 Revised Statutes.
Sec. To- Ii is shall be the duty of the sheriff
of each county TO appoint at least three days
prior to each election, two special deputies for
each precinct in the county to be known as
elacfion eheriffa vvh shall affand the noIfino