The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-31
How To Vote.

The election to be held in this state
this fall will be held under the new
law, which is generally known as the
Australian system of voting. This
| law differs very materially from that
in force in Australia, but has several
OF the most pronounced characteristics
of that system, and is practically the
same as has been adopted by many
states of the union. The law is q
great improvement on previous cleo.
ton laws, and should be thoroughly
understood by every voter before the
day of election. The aim of the new
law is to prevent corruption by insur.
ing a secret ballot and absolute indie
pendence to every voter. Since no
other man can possibly know how
any man voted, it is assumed that the
corrupt employment of money will be
reduced to the minimum, as "prac-
tical politician" will not be willing to
furnish money for the purchase OF
votes when he can have no assurance
that the goods are delivered. The law
has worked well in other states and
will be gwen thorough test in the
State of Washington at the coming
elections.
The county clerk must provide prin-
ted ballots containing the names of
all candidates certified to him, all up
on one ballot. No ballot except those
provided by the county clerk shall be
cast or counted. The ballot must be
on white paper in black ink Names
of candidates must be, under the des-
ignation of the Office, in alphabetical
order, with the name of the party
nominating the candidate. The clerk
must provide three hundred BALLOTS
for every fifty voters in each precinct.
Before the opening of the polls the
ballots must be delivered to the Judges
and with them a rubber stamp con-
tanning the words "ofiicial ballot" the
number of the precinct, name of the
county, date of election and name and
office Of the clerk furnishing the tick
cts. Not more than a majority of the
judges may be of one political party
Booths are to be provided with pencils,
etc and SO constructed that only the
voter can approach within fifty feet OF
the booth. There must be one booth
for each fifty voters in the precinct
No person except the voter preparing
his ballot will be allowed within the
enclosure except challenger. When
a voter desires to vote he receives a
ballot from the judges, stamped upon
the back with the official stamp, and
upon which the judge must write his
initials. The voter then retires to the
booth and marks cross after the
name of every candidate for whom he
desires to vote. He then folds the bal
lot with the tace inside and the official
stamp outside, and hands it to the
Judges. No voter ie allowed to remain
more than five minutes in the booth
When a voter cannot read or mark
his ballot, one or two of the election
officers shall assist him. Except in
such case, no voter shall divulge to
anyone within the polling place, the
name of the candidate for whom he
votes. No ballot will be received ex-
cept as marked with the official stamp
Cards containing full instructions for
voting must be posted in and about
the polling places. and also one of the
official tickets. No ballot shall be
counted which is not endorsed by the
official stamp and judges initials.
Any person falsely making or fra I'D
ulently defacing or destroying any
certificate of nomination, or suppress
ing any such certificate duly filed, or
forging the official endorsement on a
ballot, is liable to Imprisonment from
one to five years. Any person remov.
ing or destroying any of the supplies
IN booth. or defacing or destroying
the posted list OF candidates or the
instruction cards, is liable to a fine of
not to exceed one hundred dollars.
Any public officer doing anything pro-
hibited or neglecting any duty i'm
posed is liable to fine of fifty to five
hundred dollars or imprisonment of
one to six months. No elective officer
may do any electiOneering nor any
other person within fifty feet of the
polling place. No person may remove
amy ballot before the close of the polls.
nor show his ballot to any person, nor
vote any ballot except the one received
from the judges. A fine of not to ex.
coed one hundred dollars is provided
for violation OF these provisions. The
polls are to be open from 9 a. m. to
Z. r. m. These are the general pro
visions of the law under which our
coming election will be held. It will
be well for citizens to familiarize them
selves with the law to facilitate voting
upon election day. The law offers no
hlndrance TO the exercise of his right
OF suffrage by any legal voter, but
rather protects him in that right.
The booth may he of any design but
it is usual to construct q long shelf
against the wall and sectioned off by
partitions. The voter should bear in
mind that scratching or nothing else
counts but a cross (X) ms.de after the
candidate for whom YOU wish tn
vote.-Tacoma Globe.
A special to the Lumberman. Oct
10, says: Puget Sound loggers an.
pear in good spirits. They have had
good season in amount of sales
though grumbling, of course, at prices.
1t is clear case of bulls and bears
All the time, with the bulls on top now.
The large saw mills want logs to fill
the heavy orders that are on hand for
foreign and coast ports aud cannot af-
fOrd to hacgle oyer prices. Tho loo.
gers realize the situation and are
holding No. logs stiff at $3.50 q
thousand which 60 and 80 DAYS AGO