The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-03-02
Text Of the LaWsoa Election Bill.

- - WI OAtudHgCs 10 the Lawson
Electoral bill' which appears ON our
arst page. alr. Ine. S. Williams who
takes great interest in all public mat
ters, and whose intelligence has long
since shown him that some change in
the election law was needed in Aiissls-
sippl, directed our notice to the bill.
We hope every paper in Mississippi
will copy the bin, so that the voters
may be enabled to discuss it, and the
Legislature take action when Il meets.
As the Appeal suggests, if the law
does not fuldll expectations it can be
| easily repealed and no damage done.
If it is a success it win relieve our
Stale Of . great srouhis aud menace.
In the interest Of whites and blacks
throughout the South the electoral
question must be settled, if possible, on
some legal basis. Circumstances have
compelled not only acquescence but
insistance on certain methods, that are,
at best, necessary evils. They cannot,
as the law now is, be avoided. but that
does not geadof them good. Every
Southern man who looks into futurity
must wish for a settlement Seysrai
States have constitutional amendments
restricting the right ofsufrage, but this
isnot of that nature, yet II has ~
effsai. In .ne same
..cr If it is passed the ignor
ance which would rule, if permitted
our State would be relegated to posi-
tions where it could not injure us. Ii
this issue We wish simply to call atten
tion to the law. We shall say more o
it hereafter. We would be glad t.
hear editorial expressions OH the sub
ject and also the views of prominen
mon of our State,-Yazoo City Herald
| Section /. Be il enacted by the Gen
eral Assembly of Alabama, That in al
elections by the people in this Stat
the ballot must be a plain piece o
white paper, without any figures
marks, rulings, characters or embel
lishmeuts thereon, not less than tw,
and one-half inches, nor more thai
three in width, and not less than tv
inches in length, on which must b
written or printed the names of al
persons to be voted for, and mus
designate the Office for which said pei
son or persons so named is intended
to be chosen.
f Section2. BE it further enacted, Ths
1t shall be the duty of the Judge {
, Probate of each county, twenty day
prior to any general election, to prin
or cause to be printed, the tickets to b
voted at the ensuing election, and
special elections the tickets must b
printed ten days prior to said election
Section 3. BE il further enacted
That any person who desires to b
voted for at the general election, he 0
his representative, or the chairman {
I committee Of any party must motif
the Judge of Probate in writing th
name of the person or persons and th
I Office for which said person or person
. desire to be chosen, thirty days prio
to said election, and in special election
, the Judge Of the Probate must b
| notified ten days prior to said election
= Section 4. BE it further enacted
That when two or more persons fl
: the same office are printed upon th
Q ticket the names of said persons sha
J. bc alternated upon the tickets durin
i the printing Of the same.
O Section 5. Be 1t further enacto,
. That the Judge of Probate shall d
| liver the tickets to the sheriff Of u
county ten dayg prior to any gcner
II election, and five days prior to an
b special election.
u Section 6. Be it further enacted
= - That the sheriff shall seal tho tickets Il
Il in q hox for each voting precinct
& box in The county, and deliver Il
n same to one of the Inspectors appoin
!, !, cd to serve at said election at SAID pr
. cinct or box.
Section Z. Be it further enacte
That each voting precinct shall be fu
" !, nished tickets for more than doub
y tho number OF registered voters In sa
precinct.
Section s. Be it further enacte
That when the polls are opened the |
- spectors shall open the box containil
: the tiehcsa, and WHEN an olector pl
~ sents himself to vote, ono of the
spectors shall give him ticket al
said elector without any instructio
e information, interference, direction
t. sign whatever from the mspectoIs
m any one elge, sha,i erase with pen al
III Ink the names of all persons except t
I, persons for whom he intends to yo
lis and the elector shall then give his b
st. lot to one Qf the inspectors, as pi
N yided In section 150 of the code.
~ Section 0. lie 1T further enactt
I" That IL any elector desires to vote I
bo any person other than those print
ON upon the ticket he may write the ma
nd of said person upon his ballot a
in designate the office fer vl.ioh 81
pe,son 50 named is intended to
chosen.
Section 10. Be 1t further enact
i'm That if any elector votes for more ?
las sons for the same office than he Is
an, titled his vota fnr that office shall