Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-01-17
BALLOT REFORM.
Embracing the Main Features Of What Is
Known az the Australian System
With Important Amendments.



time in the subject Of ballot reform. Both
political parties declared in favor Of il in
their state platforms last year. The legis-
latureslect is pledged to pass bill on the
lines Of what is called superficially the
Austra lian system, hut is really the method
Of ballotinr adopted in many and diverse
communities tn guard the sccresy Of the
ballot and prevent corruption at the polls.
Az a rule the public has only a vague idea
Of the general principles involved, while il
is altogether ignorant Of the detail inseper-
GbIe from the process Of fra ming AN act ac-
ceptable in practice.
We regard the Sa xton ballot hill, now be-
lore the New York legislature, as the most
complete and perfect representation of the
ballot reform system. There is "a law al
ready on the statute books in Massa chusetts
providing for the san system, to 60 into
effect ON and after the first of November of
the current year. But that law was enacted
some time ago, is now in process Of amend
ment, and is obviously inferior in several
ailude. The Saxton hill represent y the best
system anywhere in practice, improved by
the study and advice Of some oi the hest
minds in the country. u is not n newly
sprung theory. Mr.. SaNton introduced II
bill on the ~ me general lines in the last
lepislatu whirh PASSED both houses and
was vetoed by Gov. Iiill. Every naw in il
which was pointed out in the veto mcssagc
has been reine'lrd aud every objection re
moved. There is rsassn to bclirvc that the
hill now introduced. the product of carcful
thought and of u desire to perfect every
doubtful point. approaches the perfect idea
OF ballot reform.
The main principles adopted are exceed
ingly simple. These are that the state,
county or city shall furnish, at the public
charge, sll the tickets To lie used = any elec.
tinn; that these tirk-ts shall contain the
uancs ii all persons To br voted ior Tor
any office; that no other tirk-ts shall br
used. and that these sha u l,c furnished only
one at time To actual voter. that the
voter shall indicate his choice by placing n
mark after each name for which he Wishes
, tn vote; and that. during this prepa ration
b, shall be absolutely alone. and his ch"ic.
remain. at his pleasure, n secret forever
Ry this law the election process is as fol
lows: The state. county or city govern
neni prepares ballots containing the names
81 all persons I" br voted for; copies oi
these ballots being published ia the news
papers Of both parties prior To election
day, and also posted at the polling places.
On election day there are provided ut each
voting place = series Of booths or compart
mcnts The registered voter approaches
the rail at the polling place and is given n
ballot, on the back of which the two in
spectors appointed for the purpose write
.ncir names or Initial. Hc retire. With
this ballot to one of tine private compart
ments, marks opposite the names of the
candidates of his choice. folds the ballot
with the indor-ement of the inspectors on
tn. back, and hands it in a. usual. No
body but the voter is allowed inside the
rail. no electioneering can be done within "a
specified distance, no ballots are circulated
publicly. and no votes can lie cast or
counted except those which are indorse,l a.
by law. AS all are indorsed IN the same
way, no particular ballot can ever he idcn-
titled.
The objections hitherto ad dvanccd u "a inst
this method are two: first, the difficulty
about knowing what names the public au-
thorities shall place on the tickets as rcgu-
lar and authorized candidates; second. by
what method to assist the illiterate voter
in preparing his ballot. II was because of
defects real or alleged in these pa RI iculars