The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-06-15
THE ELECTORAL REFORM LAW.

tives a few weeks ago that if the legis-
lature had done nothing more than
pass the ele ctoral reform law that 1t
would have earned all that it had cost
to the people. Valuing above all
things political a pure ballot these
words of the senator seem none too
strong, and the eyes of the people are
turned interestedly toward the new
law, to see what it is, to weigh its va
rious provisions, and to Judge whether
or not it will really be of benefit. OF
course 1t is an experimental least, as
to us-all admit that, yet it is true that
in Australia, where it has been thor
oughly tried, no iaducement would
cause the people to give it up; and
that in Louisville, Kentucky, the test
it has received Las firmly fixed it as the
law.
There is a good deal OF the law, and
it will be difficult to give a clear idea
of 1t in a concise way, but, as briefly
as possible, we wish to tell our read
ers what it will do. First, il only ap-
plies to cities OF 5000 population and
over, but as It is in the cities that
most of the corruption finds LODGE ent
and as the law is on trial, this is not
bad.
1t is provided in the law that
all ballots shall be printed and distrib-
uted at public expense. The printing
OF the ballots and of the cards OF in
struction for the electors, and the de-
livery of the same to the election OFF,
GERS, shall be a county charge, except
where the officers to be voted for are
exclusively city officers, then it shall
be a city charge.
Any convention of delegates or pri-
mary election held for the purpose
of making nominations to public Office,
and also electors in a number specified,
may nominate candidates tor offices to
be filed by election within the state.
Certificates of nomination shall be
filed with the secretary of state for the
nomination Of candidates for offices to
be filed by the electors of the entire
stale, or any district or division of a
greater extent than II county. For
all other nominations to public offices,
certificates of nomination shall be filed
with the clerks of the county court OF
the respective counties wherein the Off
ces are TO be filed by the electors.
Here follow definitions OF what is in
tended TO be recognized as conventions,
and the statement that any citizens, not
a political convention, from fifty to
one thousand in number, may nominate
a ticket to be voted Tor.
Certificates of nomination filed with
the secretary of state shall be filed not
more than sixty and not less than
twenty days before the day fixed Ivy
law for the election of the persons in
nomination. Certificates of nomina-
ton filed with the clerk of the county
court of each county shall be filed not
more than sixty and not less than iii.
teen days before election, with a pro-
vision for supplying vacancies on a
ticket by a committee or convention.
Publication is to be made before the
election of the tickets which are to be
voted for.
Except as in the act otherwise pro-
vided, 1t shall be the duty OF the clerk
the county court of each county TO
provide printed ballots for every cleo
ton for tublic officers in which any of
the electors within his county partici-
pate, and to cause to be printed in the
appropriate ballot the name of every
candidate whose name has been certi-
ted TO or filed with him, and the party
10 which he belongs. Ballots other
than those printed by the respective
clerks OF the county courts shall not be |
or counted in any election. Two
more judges than usual are to be
chosen for each election precinct
The officers upon whom Is imposed
by law the duty of designating poll
ing places shall provide in each place
by them q sufficient num-
her of places, booths or compartments,
which shall be furnished with such
and conveniences as shall en-
able the voter conveniently to prepare
ballot for voting, in which com.
partinent the electors shall mark their
ballots, screened from observation,
and a gnard SO constructed that only
persons within said rail can approach
within five feet OF the ballot boxes, or
the places or compartments. The num-
Der of places or compartments shall
not be less than one for every one hun
dred electors who voted at the last pre-
ceding general election in the district.
No persons other than electors engag-
ed in receiving, preparing or deliver.
ing their ballots shall be permitted TO
ue within said rail, except by authority
of the Judges of elections.
Each qualified elector shall be enti-
tied to receive from the judges of the
election one ballot. 1t shall be the
duty of such judges to deliver such
ballot 10 the elector. Before delivering
any ballot to the elector, the two
judges OF election having charge of the
ballots shall write their names or in.
itials upon the back of the ballot.
On receipt of his ballot the elector
shall forthwith, and without leaving
the polling place. retire alone to one
OF the places, booths or compartments
provided to prepare his ballot. Ee
shall prepare his ballot by crossing out
tuerefrom the names of all candidates
except those for whom he wishes 10
vote, or in case of q ballot containing
a constitutional amendment or q ques-
ton TO be submitted 10 the vote of the
people, by crossing out thereirom paris
of the ballot in such manner that the
remaining parts shall express his vote
upon the questions submitted. After
preparing bis ballot, the elector shall
fold the same SO that the face of the
ballot will be concealed, and the sig
natures or initials of the judges thereon
may be seen. He shall then vote forth.
with and before leaving the polling