Huntsville gazette., 1889-02-09
BALLOT REFORM.
Text Of the New Election Bill Now
Before the Legislature.

A bill entitled an act to regulate the
ballot and the manner OF voting in elect
ions in this state.
SECTION l. Be it enacted by the gener-
al assembly of Alabama. that in all
elections by the people in this state the
ballot must be plain peice Of white
paper, without any figures, marks rul-
ings, characters, or embellishments
thereon, not less than two and one half
inches, nor more than three in width,
and not less than five inches in length,
on which must be written or printed,
or partly written and partly printed the
names of all persons to be voted for, and
must designate the Office for which said
person or persons SO named is intends
ed to be chosen.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That it
shall be the duty If the Judge Of probate
OF each county tw 4ty days prior to any
general election to Print, or cause to be
printed the tickets TO be voted at the
ensuing election, and in specil elections
the tickets must be printed ten days
prior to said election.
SEC. 8. Be it further enacted, That
any person who desires to be voted for
at any general election, he or his repre-
sentative, or the chairman OF commit
tee or any party must notify the judge
of probate in writing the names of the
person or persons and the Office for
which said person or persons desire to
be chosen, thirty days prior to said elect
ton and in special elections the judge OF
probate must be notified ten days prior
to said election.
SEC. 4 Be it further enacted, That
when two or more persons for the same
Office are printed upon the ticket the
names Of said persons shall be alternat>
ed upon the tickets during the printing
of the same. -
SEC. 5. Be ii further enacted, That
the judge of probate shall deliver the
tickets to the sheriff of the county ten
days prior to any special election.
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That
each voting precinct shall be furnished
tickets for more than double the number
of registered voters in said precinct.
SEC s. Be it further enacted, That
when the polls are opened the inspectors
shall open the box containing the tick
cts, and when an elector presents him
self to vote, one. of the inspectors shall
give him ticket and said eector with,
out any instruction, information, inter.
ference, direction or sign whatever from
the inspectors or any one else, shall
erase with pen and ink the names OF all
except the names ofthe. .personfor whom
he intends to vote, and the elector shall
then give his ballot to one OF the ms
pectors as provided in section three
hundred and seventy of the code.
Sec 8 Be it further enacted, That
| if any elector desires to vote for any
person other than those printed upon
the ticket, he may write the name of
said person upon his ballot and desig>
mated the office for which said person so
| named Is intended TO be chosen.
Sec. 10 Be it further enacted, That
if any elector votes for more persons for
the same Office than he is entitled, his
vot+ for that office shall not be counted.
SEC. IL. B it further enacted, That
| if any elector attempts to leave the polls
with the tickets given him by the ins
pectors, he shall be deemed guilty OF a
misdemeanor, and the inspector shall
order the deputy sheriff to arrest him,
and on conviction shall be fined not less
| than twenty nor more than fifty dollars.
SEC.12. Be it further enacted. That if
any person attempts to vote any ticket
/
spectors, and provided for in this act, he
shall be deemed guilty Of a misdemeanor
and on conviction shall be fined not less
than twenty, nor more than one hundred
dollars.
| SEC. Is Be it further enacted. That If
any person attempts to influence the
elector or instruct him in the preparation
OF his ballot. he shall be deemed guilty
OF misdeanor, and the inspectors shall
order the arrest of the party offending,
and on conviction shall be fined not less
| than twenty nor more than one huns
dred dollars.
Sec. IA Be it further enacted. That
the cost OF printing the the tickets shall
be paid for by the county as other claims
against the county are paid, as now pro
vided for by law.
| Sec. Is. Be it further enacted That any
ballot other than that provided for in
this act is illegal and must be rejected.
| Sec. 16 Be it further enacted, That
sections three hundred and sixty>nine
and three hundred and seventy Of the
code be and the same are hereby re-
pealed.
SEC. IL. Be it further enacted, That
this act shall apply to municipal elections
in this state, and the mayor or intendent
of the city or town is charged with its
execution, and the cost of the same to be
paid for by the city or town as claims
against the city or town are paid as now
provided by law.