Telegram-herald., 1890-10-24
THE PROCESS OF VOTING
Under the New Election Law as Defined
by the Attorney General

"
Based upon the opinion OF the su-
preme Court, the attorney general has
gwen his opinion upon the steps neces-
sary in carrying out the provisions OF
the new election law. 1t says: The
provisions OF section are so plain that
comment is unnecessary. While the
secretary of state has the supervision
and control of the printing of the tick
cts, he can have them printed at any
place or number of places in the state
he sees fit that appears 10 be necessary.
An elector has the right 10 take any
such ticket and make such changes
thereon as ne desires.
The chairman of the board of lnspec-
tors shall announce in a loud voice the
name of the elector when presenting
himself, so that it may be understood
who proposes TO vote; if the inspectors
are satisfied he is legally qualified the
ballot must be taken and deposited in
the box, whether IL is one furnished by
the secretary of state or not, provided
it is IN SIZE and color OF the regulation
ticket.
"The inspectors have no authority
while the elector is in the act of voting
to question its legality provided he pre-
sents single folded ballot of the regu-
lstion size and color. The challengers
shall be assigned place Immediately
a nd do = "a
railing and fence. ANY elector at the
polling place, outside the railing, may
| challenge any person he thinks not a
legal voter, and such action is not con-
| fined to the regular challenger. There
must be a gatekeeper at each gate, and
| the entrance gate must be at the end OF
| the railing, and the exit as tar removed
| from it as possible. The provision for
| construction of booths is mandatory
and If the election in any township or
voting precinct having 100 voters is held
| without compliance with this, the cleo
ton will be void. The inspectors have
| the authority 10 limit the time that a
voter may remain IN booth 10 not less
| than one minute nor more than five,
| snd have the authority to direct the
gatekeeper TO enforce the rule.
| ANY elector has the right to have
| his ticket with him before he enters the
booth, and he Is not under any legal
! duty TO take any Of the tickets fur
nished by the inspectors, but may cast
ballot that he has taken inside the
! railing with him when he enters, pro-
viding he has passed through the booth
so that he has had any opportunity to
| change his ticket or alter 1t unseen by
anybody.
"If the elector is blind or illterate,
he can have friend aid him in fixing
his ticket or see that he gets the ticket
be desires 10 vote. There Is no direct
| provision IN the statute that the com.
mittees shall deliver any ballots TO the
| inspectors, but It is presumed that all
the committees, who are inteIest IN
| the elections, will see that the neces-
sarv ballots are delivered 10 the lnspec.
! tors to be- placed in the booths They
| should have doors at each opening, 80
| that they can be closed and the cleo
tors entirely secluded from the obseI.
vatIon Of any one while in the booth
1t tis the duty of the Secretary Of STATE
10 see that the lawful ticket IS fled
with the county clerk"
ANY voter hiss = right TO take any
ticket that has county ticket upon IT,
| and write upon lt the names Of the can
didates for whom be wishes 10 vote fJi
the county Office after reading the name
thereon. or he may put the same on by
pasters or slips, or he may have s
county ticket of his own and paste j
over the county ticket or any other
ticket and vote Il and the vote. nodoubt
will be legal and must be counted. There
can be no question but what any legs
voter may take any authorized ticket
and substitute the name Of any peTsog
BE desires to vote for. even 4 he sub
stltute a name for every Office on to-
ticket. II be can sip one name be CAT
slip the whole. and the ticket in Ques
ton would be val d when cast and sh0uie
he counted the same as ( lt bad not beei
changed. When voter changes hi
tcket by putting on pasters OF sips, n
/ does it because he wants 20 make to-
ticket conform 20 What be desires. snt
there = no fraud OF wrong peTpetrstet
and the sct j. legsl
should any party have only stat
ticket. or sny party only county tcke
in the held IN sny C03ntv, snch psrtle
can have their tickets furnished ~ 49,
Secretary Of state ~ fling .guetts vt.
Secretary 81 state. and can either voti
that pcket alone 81 paste lt or 81
other ticket" The gate keeper is hel
fo have p0Ner - = constable for nan
tslning peace sad aaist ~ tte polls q
I election DAY.