Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-05-09
POISON FOR
Radical Change in Voting Methods
How the New Law VIII
Work.

election The Australian election
bill has passed the house and sem
ate AID now lies on the desk of
Governor Francis awaiting his sig
nature. 1t is generally thought
that he will sign the bill. If he
does it will go into effect so days
after the assembly adjourns sine
die.
The bill affects only cities of
5000 inhabitants and over, and was
prepared by Senator Sparks. 1t
provides for the printing ofthe bal
lots, and declares they shall be paid
for by the county Or city. 1t enacts
that any convention of delegates, a
primary election, or not less than
so nominators may nominate a tick
ct. 1t declares that q certificate of
nomination must be given and must
contain the name, residence and oc-
cupation of the person nominated;
also his political creed. 1t further
provides that the secretary of state
shall receive the certificate of nom
nation for state officers, and coun-
ty and city clerks for the others.
Only parties polling 3per cent. of
the vote Of the last election, can
hold a convention. \ candidate can
not be nominated for more than
one office, and certificates of nomi-
nation must be fled not more than
60 nor less than 20 days prior to an
election. 1t enacts that the publ
cation ofthe nominee shall be made
for seven days before the election.
in at least two papers III the city OR
county. 1t provides that a formal
notice of withdrawal from the. tick
ct shall be sent to the secretary of
state, county clerk or city register,
as the case may be. Any ballot not
printed by order of the secretary of
state, county clerk or city register,
shall not be received nor counted
at the election. After the name of
each candidate on a ticket, a space
,l,lJ ha Inft co that :, ~, oar he
written.
1t shall be the duty of county
clerks or city registers to distribute
the ballots to the polling places.
Four ballots shall be printed to
each voter. Half of the ballots
shall be delivered to a constable OF
election to be held In eserv in
case of an emergency. Two judges
of different political complexion
shall have charge of the ballots at
the polls. Small compartments
shall be provided, wherein a man
can prepare his ballot with the ut
NEST secrecy, and one of these com
partments must be at each polling
place for each 100 voters. No per-
son except voters shall be allowed
within the railing enclosing the
compartments.
The judges shall initial a ballot
before presenting it to the voter and
and no ballot not initiated shall be
counted. The voter must o.
cut all names, on the ballot, except
those for whom he desires to vote
and must then fold his ticket small
so that only the judges initial can
be seen. Five minutes will be al
lowed each voter to prepare his
ballot and not more than one per-
son shall be in the booth at the
same time. Cards will be at the
polling places with Instructions
how to vote. Lit Will be a felony to
suppress or forge a certificate of
nomination or forge an Endorsement
of any ballot.
The bill prohibits the disclosing
of the nature of the vote; election
eering by officers of election; cleo
pioneering by any person, within
100 feet of the polls; revising bal
lots before the close of the polls,
and applying for ballots by persons
not entitled to vote. Penalties of
a severe nature 1T applied to all
infractions of the sections of the
bill.