St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-23
FOR A Pure BALLOT.
Representative John Reyes
interviewed Upon His
New Election Law.
The Australian Secret Ballot
System Which He
FavOPS.
Changes Made From the
Whiteman Law Of Two
Years Ago.
An Epitome of the Bill Given
to the Pub
lie.

ture has at length had brought before 1t
for actual consideration the so-called
Australian, or secret ballot system, i'll
the form of House File No. 2, bill in
trOduced by John A. KeyeS, of WlnOna,
and which. with some notifications de-
signed to make the same conform to the
needs and peculiar situation of the peo-
pie of this state, further substituting
an open tor the Sesret ballot, as secured
by the above system. embodleS the main
provisions of the Australian law.
The bill is partial re-draft of the
Whiteman law, changing the same in
several particulars, and incorporating
therein the new system.
Mr.. Reyes says he does not by any
means claim that the bill is
perfectly drawn instrument, but
is confident that if the Australian
or any other system of secret voting is
to be adopted by the present legisla-
ture, the one Incorporated in his Dill
will be found to be complete, simple
and easily cOnformable to the needs OF
the state as any that can be devised.
Mr.. Reyes further says that he is not
upon the committee on elections, and
the bill is not one which he intends to
urge; that the legislators doubtless
the measure fully when it is reached:
that the quicker we get complete and
digested election law, insuring as near
absolute secrecy as possible, at the
same time making the ballot an official
instrument, voted by authority of law,
the better It will be for the state and the
people. We clio not wish to repeat the
experience which has driven New York
and other of the larger states to the en-
actment of strict election laws only
after corruption and bribery had be-
come intOleraDle,
CHIEF FEATURES.
The following are the chief features
of the bill SO far as the same relate to
the new system:
The only method of voting at any election
shall be by ballot and all ballots hereafter
Voted at any election in the state OF Mime
SOFA shall be printed as hereinafter pro-
Vided
There shall be one white ballot. upon
which shall be printed the names of all can
Oidates for office who are voted for through
out the entire state, and all amendments to
the constitution of the state to be submitted
to the electors thereof. 1t the names OF the
presidential electors make q ballot too long
for convenience, they may be printed upon
separate white ballot.
There shall be one ballot tinted blue. upon
which shall be printed the names of all can
didaJes for Office not included in section six
teen Q6), who are voted for throughout the
entire county.
There shall be one ballot tinted red, upon
which shall be printed the names of all can
didates for Office not included in sections
sixteen 90 and seventeen 90 and who are
voted for throughout the whole township,
village, city, ward or precinct thereof.
The plain white ballots shall be printed by
the state auditor and bound i'll blocks of one
hundred (lU0 ballots to the block the ex-
pense whereof shall be betrayed from the
state treasury, and shall, by the state auditor,
be distributed to the auditors of the different
counties in such quantities as shall be neces-
sary TO enable the city, village or township
Jerks to Iully comply with the provisions
of section twenty-five (22) of this act, such
ballots 10 be furnished the county auditors
tleast eighteen QS) days before election.
and receipt, stating the number of ballots
and the date on which they were received
Shall be taken therefor.
The bal oLs tinted blue shall be printed by
the county auditor of each county and
bound i'll blocks of one hundred 400 bal
lots to the block; the expenses whereof shall
be betrayed from the county treasury, and
shall be distributed by the county auditor
together with the ballots received from the
state auditor ito city, village and township
clerks within his county in such quantities
as shall be necessary TO enable such clerks to
fully comply with the provisions of section
twenty-five (22) of this act; such ballots to
be furnished such clerks at least eight 81
days before election, and receipts stating the
number and color of ballots and the date on
which they were received shall be taken
therefor.
The ballots tinted red shah be printed by
the city, village or to%Hship clerk, and bound
in blocks of one hundred 900 ballots to the
block, the expe1 Sc whereof shall he betrayed
from the city, township or village treasury
and shall, together with the white and blue
ballots and printed instructions hereinafter
provided for, be distributed by the city, vii
lage or township clerks to the judges of cleo
Mo "a
stating the number and color of ballots and
the date OH which they were received, shall
be taken therefor: Provided, however. that
whenever the district of a representative or
senator to the state legislature extends fur
Their than the limits of a single city, village
or township, then and in that case th ballot
for such representative or senator shall be
printed by the county auditor on the ballots
tinted blue
Each city, village and township clerk shall
provide for each polling place or aection dis
trict in his city, village or township, one
hundred 600 ballots of each kind to be
voted in the district for every fifty or fraction
of fifty electors registered at the last preced-
Ing election i'll the district
IL shall be the duty of the judges of elee-
ton, TO whom said blocks OF ballots are
printed instructions, at the polling place in
L.s district in which they are the judges. at
the opening OF the polls on the day of cleo
ton.
and township clerks shall place upon the
several ballots printed by them the name of
each candidate for Office who shall have
been nominated thereto by any assembly,
gathering or convention of citizens qualified
by law to vote for any candidate for such
Office, and shall have handed the name,
within the time prescribed by section twenty
six (26) of this act, to the officer charged
which the name is to be placed, together
with certificate from such assembly, gath
ering or convention. signed by the chairman
and secretary thereof. that he was so noml-
mated; and Oh payment of the fee pre-
scrlbed by law, which shall be for the white
ticket fifty (5U) dollars for each name ten
dered; for the blue ticket ten (10) dollars
for each name rendered, and for the red
ticket five (5) dollars for each name ten
dered. Each such officer shall place upon
the ticket by him to be printed, only the
names of the candidates who are nominated
to offices proper to pc placed upon such
ticket under the provision of this act.
FORM OF BALLOTS.
The form of The ballots shall be both in
size and style substantially as printed i'll Ex
hibit "a" hereto annexed and made a
part of this bill, with such headings as shall
be appropriate. The name of the candidate
for each office shall follow It's name of the
Office i'll capital letters in the order in which
they are handed in. Before each candidates
name shall be repeated the name OF the
Office for which he is running. and after his
name his politics shall be designated. OPP
posite to each candidates name in the mar
giS. sL.ll be left vacant space, in which
the(eclor shall designate his vote by cross
OK mark.
There shall be left at the end of the list of
names of candidates for each office, a blank
space i'll the same dimensions as the other
spaces, i'll which the voter may place the
name of any other person for whom he de-
sires TO vote. whose name is not printed OH
the ballot.
Names must be handed to the state auditor
to be llced upon the white ballots. in ac-
cordIZce with the provisions of this act, at
least twenty weight (2S) days before the day
of election. Names must be handed to the
ool1ntv anditnr 10 he nlaced On the ballot