Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-02-08
THE NEW ELECTION BILL.

H. B. No, 70, an act to more fully secure
the independence OF electors, to enforce
the secrecy OF the ballot, and to provide
for the printing and distribution of ballots
at public expense, was passed by the
house yesterday and is now in the hands
of the senators. Its complete title de-
scribes its objects quite fully, only, Of
course, the bill is a very long one, going
into all the details of election machinery.
There are grave fears that the measure
won't pass the senate, although it is ad-
mitted to be superior remedy for the de-
fects of the present law. Some OF the
provisions of the bill are as follows:
The printing of ballots and cards Of in
struction for the electors in each county,
and the delivery Of the same to the cleo
ton officers, as hereinafter provided,
shall be county charge, the payment of
which shall be provided for in the same
manner as the payment Of other county
expenses.
At the same time and in the same
manner as inspectors Of election
are now appointed two additional
inspectors Of elections for each
election district in the state shall be ap-
pointed.
All officers upon whom is imposed by
law the duty of designating polling places
shall provide in each polling place desig-
mated by them sufficient number OF
places, booths or compartments, which
shall be furnished with such supplies and
conveniences as shall enable the voter
conveniently to prepare his ballot for vot-
ing, and i'll which electors may mark
their ballots, screened from observation,
and guard rail so constructed that only
persons within such rail can approach
within five feet Of the ballot boxes or the
places, booths or compartments herein
provided for. The mum DER of such places,
booth or compartments shall not be less
than one for every fifty electors who
voted at the last preceding election in
the district. No person other than electors
engaged in receiving, preparing or de-
posting their ballots, or person present
for the purpose of challenging the vote of
an elector about to cast his ballot, shall
be permitted to be within said rail.
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 pre-
pare his ballots. He shall prepare his
ballots by marking cross before or after
the name of the person or persons for
whom he intends to vote-for example,
x; or in case Of ballot containing con-
stitutional amendment or question to
be submitted to the vote of the people, by
crossing out therefrom parts of the ballot
in such manner that the remaining part
shall express his vote upon the question
submitted. In marking such ballot any
elector shall be at liberty to use or copy
any unofficial sample ballot which he
may choose to mark or to have had
marked in advance of entering the polling
place or booth, to assist him in marking
the official ballot, but no elector shall be
at liberty to use or bring. unto the polling
place any unofficial SAMPLE ballot printed
upon paper Of the color and quality now
required to be used for the printing of
ballots under the general election laws of
this state. After preparing his ballots
the elector shall fold each of them so that
the face of the ballot will be concealed,
and so that the printed Endorsement and
the signatures or initials of the ballot
clerks thereon may be seen. He shall
then vote forthwith and before leaving
the polling place.
Provided, however, that any elector
who desires to vote for an entire group