The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-06
THE NEW ELECTION LAW.
THE BILL INTRODUCED BY MR..
DoRTCH. OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Its Exact Text as 1t Passed Both Houses
The Civil District Clause of the
Original Draft Eliminated-The Local
tiles Affected.


4. The following is the text OF the Dortch
election bill australian system) as il
passed both Houses of the Tennessee Leg
islature. The original draft was printed
in THE APPEAL of March 8, but amend
ments were made to the second and six
teenth sections, and the law as it will be
when the Governors signature shall have
been applied is as follows, and the reader
will perceive that it only applies to Shelby
and Davidson Counties and to the cities OF
Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and
Knoxville, as these cities and counties
alone, under the Federal census of $780,
had the necessary population:
A bill TO be entitled can act to provide more
srlaRent regulations Tor securing the purity Of
elections In this state and applicable 10 counties
having population OF 200 aud over, and cities
of over 1900, computed by the census Of lssO
Section |. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly OF the State of Tennessee, That
all ballots cast in elections for national.
State, county and district officers in the
towns, counties and civil districts to which
this act is applicable, shall be printed and
distributed, at public expense, as herein
after provided. The printing and distribu-
ton OF ballots and cards OF instruction to
voters SHALL in municipal elections, be paid
by the cities, and in all other elections by
the counties in which SAID elections arc
held, subject TO the provisions.of this act.
The term state elections" as used in this
act, shall apply to any election held for the
choice OF a national, State, county or dist
rict officer or officers, and the term Estate
officer" shall apply to any person to be
chosen at such elections. The term "city
election" shall apply to any municipal
election so held in city, and the term
''city officer" shall apply to any person to
be chosen by the qualified voters at such
an election.
Section 2. BE II further enacted, That
the provisions Of this act shall be applica-
BILE TO counties having population Of
10000 or over, and cities Of over 1000,
computed by the census of 1880.
Section 3. BE il further enacted, That
the ballots printed for use under this act
shall contain the names OF all the candi-
dates who shall have been put in nomina-
ton hyany caucus, convention, mass meet
ingor other assembly of any political party
in this state at least ten days previous to
the dayof election. II shall be the duty of
the chairman OF the Board Of Commits
lots for use under the provisions OF this
act, and he shall cause TO be printed upon
said ballots the names OF candidates so
nominated, upon the written request OF
any one Of the candidates 50 nominated
or upon the written request OF any quail
fled voter who will affirm that he was a
member OF said caucus, and the name pre-.
scented by him was the nominee OF said
ipfr oil
assembly Of any such political party
The said officer shall cause TO be printed
upon said ballots the Of any qualified
voter, who has been requested TO be n
candidate for any Office by written pc
tition, signed by at least fifteen ciu-
zcns qualified 10 vote in the election,
to GIL said office where such petition has
seen given him, at least ten days previous
70 the election; but II any qualified citizen
has been nominated, as above specified,
within less than ten days OF the election,
5r has been requested 10 be candidate, as
above specified, then said names shall not
be printed upon said tickets. But, in adj
dition TO the names printed upon said
tickets, there shall be at least one blank
space under each Office 10 De voted for,
and the candidate nominated or who de.
sires 10 run, OF his own yolition, may have
a separate ticket printed, upon which the
title of the office for which he is n candi-
date and his own name and address shall
be printed, aud said candidate may give
these 10 the officer or officers distributing
ballots upon the day OF the election, and
said officer or officers shall give 10 each
voter. In addition TO the printed ticket as
hereinafter specified, n copy OF said ticket.
The voter receiving said ticket shall not
vote II, but may consult II 10 enable him
30 write upon the ticket, printed at public
expense, the name OF such candidate
should he no desire, and designate the
same by mark aH horeinbeiore prescribed.
Section g. lie II further enacted, That
after the proper officer has been notified OF
the nomination, as hercinboiofc specified,
OF any candidate for any office, ne shall
moi withdraw same unless upon the writ
ten request OF the candidate 80 nominated,
made at least ten days before the day Of
election.
Section 8. he II further enacted, That
every general ballot which shall be printed
in accordance with the provisions OF this
act shall contain the names Of the can
didates nominated as hereinbefore spcci-
fed, and not withdrawn as horeinbciorc
specified. Tho names OF all candidates
for the same Office shall bc printed To-
gcthcr 30 that all the candidates Of each POI
liiiral party shall be together and arranged
alphabetically, according 10 the initials Of
their snrnames But the order In which
the title oi The various offices 10 be filed
shall he arranged upon each separate ticket
or ballot shall be left TO the will Of the
officer, or officers, charged with the print
ing Of said tickets. The names Of the
Presidential Electors shall be arranged in
groups, according 10 political parties, aud
preceded by the words, Electors giving
the namc) Tor candidate for President and
for giving tho nnmcl candidate Tor
Nirt-lrusidonL" Whenever the qucs-
ton Of constitutional amendment,
or other question, Is 20 submitted
10 the vote OF the people, such ques-
tons shall be printed upon the ballot
after the list Of candidates, followed by the
words "Ycs" and mo" 20 that the voter
eau intelligently vote his preference by
making cross mark (N) opposite the
proper word. Immediately following the
title OF each officer shall be printed the
words, "Noto for one" Vote for two"
according to the number 20 be elected.
The ballot shall not be less than eleven
nor more than thirteen inches wide. On
the back and outside when folded shall be
printed, "Onicial ballot ior," followed by
the designation OF the polling place Tor
which the ballot Is prepared, the date of
the election, the number OF the ballot
itself, and fac simile OF the signature Of
the officer or officers charged With the
printing Of the ballots
gcrtlon a. ne IA furthcr enactnd Thai