Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-07
The Australian BALLOT.


BEE. The essence Of the bill to introduce
the Australian system of voting as approved
by the lower house, is as follows:
Section l. All ballots as hereinafter pro-
vided shall be presented and distributed a.
public expense. In municipal elections the
city pays the expense, in all others the
county.
Section 2 provides for nominations by
political parties, recognizing any party that
polled per cent OF the vote at the last cleo
tion.
Sections 8, 4 and 5 provide for the certi-
fying of the candidates to the proper officers;
state officers to the secretary of state, and all
Others 20 the county clerk.
Section 6 prohibits any person from joining
N the nomination of more than one candi-
date for the same office.
Section requires the secretary of state
and county clerk to preserve all certificates
of nomination.
Section requires the certificates to be
filed in the office of the secretary of state not
less than twenty nor more than forty days,
and with the county clerk not less than tif-
teen nor more than thirty bys before cleo
ton.
Section 10 requires the county clerk to
publish the names of all the candidates in
two newspapers OF opposite political faith at
least seven days before the election.
Section II provides for the posting of lists
of the candidates at least one week before
election.
and distribution of the ballots by the county
clerk.
Section 10 provides that errors and omls-
sions may be corrected.
Section 90 provides that the law shall only
apply to cities of the first and metropolitan
classes.
Section 81 provides that the officers on
whom is imposed the duty of designating
polling places shall provide sufficient num-
ber of booths or compartments-not less
than one to each fifty voters wherein
each elector shall prepare his ballot
while screened from observation, and q guard
rail shall be so placed that only one per-
son can approach to within five feet of the
ballOt-box at time; also that each political
party may have one challenger within the
railing.
Section 90 provides that the judges of elec-
tion shall designate one judge aud one clerk
who shall deliver ballots to qualified electors
after writing their names or initials on the
back of each.
Section "a requires the voter, on receiving
his ballots, to retire into one of the booths or
compartments and mark his ballot, plac-
ing an X or cross opposite the pames of the
candidates for whom he desires to vote.
| Section 25 provides that not more than one
person shall occupy booth at the same time,
and allows each voter not to exceed ten
minutes in which to prepare his ballot.
Section 26 provides that when any elector
declares that he is unable to prepare his bal
lot for lack Of ability to read the English
language, he may bring with him one person
of his own selection to assist him in prepar-
ing his ballot. 1t also prohibits any person
from divulging to anyone within the polling
place the name of the candidate for whom
he proposes to vote.
Section % prohibits judge from deposit
ing any ballot on which the names or initials
of the ballot clerks do not appear.
Section % requires the county and city
clerks to print and post notices In large let
ters for the instruction of electors in prepar-
ing their ballots.
Section 30 declares all ballots not properly
filled out, or that do not contain the indorse-
ment of the ballot clerks, void, and shall
not be counted
Section 30 prohibits any person from defac-
ing or destroying any certificate of nomna-
tion or forge or falsely make any official in
dorsment on any ballot
Section 81 provides that no person, during
the progress of an election, shall deface or
destroy any of the conveniences furnished
the voter to aid him in preparing his ballot.
Sections 81 and 33 provide that any public
officer on whom any duty Is imposed by this
act, who shall fail to perform his duty shall
tion thereof shall forfeit his office, and fixes
the further penalty of Imprisonment in the
penitentiary or county Jail not less than six
months nor more than three years.
Section 35 prohibits officers from doing
any electioneering on election day, and re-
Qulres all persons TO remain at least 100 feet
away from the polling places
II further provides that no elector shall
show his ballot to any person, or remove any
ballot from the polling place before the clos
ing of the polls, or receive ballot from any
one but the ballot clerks, and he is required
to return all ballots that are not used.