New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-05
FOR ELECTORAL REFORM.
MR.. ACKER'S BILL TO SECURE HONESTY AT
ELECTIONS
MEASURE DRAWN UP on THE BASIS OF GOV
ERYoR HILLS vEroEs-THE CORRUPT
PRACTICES ACT SIGNED.

PRACTICES ACT SIGNED.
rFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE rRIBryEa
Albany, April A BalloRel0rm bill Of consider
able Importance presented to the assembly this
morning by Mr. Ackcr Of stcuben County. Mr. Ackcr
prepared it hastily in view Of Governor HIS veto Of
the saxton Ballot Reform BILL and. therefore, he may
amend 1t In some respects My idea in preparing It,,
said he to-day, was to improve the election laws Of
this state. If they were improved only in slight
degree compared with the way would like to have
them changed for the better one OF the greatest
abuses Of the present. method Of conducting elections
Is our permitting four-score political workers to
gather about each polling place to intimdatc or in
nuencc voters against rcir natural instincts. In my
bill provide that person other than voter shall
approach within 100 feet of the polls. That provl-
sion will keep political workers at proper distance
from the polls and do away with the mobs 1naf now
at times surround polling places. II IS contendcd by
the friends Of Ballot Reform also that a vast amount
Of bribery would be prevented If at any time after re-
cclving his ballots from the man who had bF1bed him
a voter should 60 ont Of his sight for a moment.
have therefore provided in my bill that every voter
shall into booth before voting, Ccrc remain for
two minuics and prepare his ballots. such a pro-
vision at the polls wonld snake the faith OF the bybcr
that the whom he had paid for his vote woud use
the ballots which had been given him. think with
these two provisions incorporated In the clccuon laws
Of the state amount of bribery and intimidation
Of voters would be stopped
Mr.. Ackcr In hi, bill provides that in every polling
district there shall be Only poIlineplacc and that
all ballots cast by any clcctor at such election in
the election district shall first be incoscd in sealed
official envelope The ballots. as at present shall be
Of similar size. No election district - to contain over
900 voters. The Official envelopes are to be pro
vldcd ly the county clerks. The state j. also
10 furnish ballots for such political parties as do,rc
them. In the case Of general election the charncn
sixty days before election and not less than ten are to
apply for the ballots and give each county clerk
liz Of the candidates. The bill also says that any
nny electors" may have ballots printed for them. Al
each polling place there are to be booths i"rIi7hc"
with pens, ink pencils and muclasc, 70 enable voters
t. prepare their ballots. These booths are I" DC 80
prepared AS t. screen the voters from observation
while preparing their ballots There Is
be "a guard rail. with exit and en-
trance. gates 50 constructed that only persons
within such rail approach with tel feet # the
ballot box or II such booths Compartments
The bill also says that each booth or compart
meat -lam have four sides incoscd ono side III
front Ia open and shut. As door swinging each way
F,.b sid. ~ the compartment shall be AZ least
seven feet high and The door shall cNtcrd to within
foot Of the noor. so person other than electors
ENGAGED in receiving. preparing or dopo-iiifs their
h,l,i- up person present for the purpose OF chai
l.r.in, Tie vote Of any ci"cior about 70 'a.' MS
...r.
ballot. and the inspectors II elections ana watchers
provided hy law. shall be lfii"i' To- d. "''''" s'''
rail 1T any one tine. Noi more '"'n WE'VE pr
SONS. exclusive Of ei"'t"n "'.''' "'" wa"
,..,s.f iv shall bee allowed u De ai one ZINC
,,in .icn quad rail between tie opening and clos
t. a. d.. n,fl. If any election No 'unNcT-Aio"
.i,u D.. had within .n,h guard rail except such as
shall De- necessary flr the Performance 81 the o'h'"l
d. ~ the election officers and 81 Tie duties "t inc
.. ,.i.,. a. t,ro..fcd hy law There then foHo"7
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officer ~ o1.r'l- required % PRINT OLD j.. W
'Dr. upon entering within -''' -"-i"'' 49,
r-.,.el directly To- Che in'pr tors OF INC '-'.''"
a. i.' place provided u'l.'' anu 'o~ o., e,'n o., such
lrlu rI.'H n"' oI' ii .'''''f ,,-.,id and
i.iI-t. required in lH c'.lf'i'4 To ''" - '
shall f. .,oa proceed direct v. and without '"'m1 ".
. ..... o.,-.i. ~ -l'f euarI-r,u. % one 81
. ,.. ,.rup..l iy any other
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...-. diam a.r r.l.f.. 90 page Hl' N".'' ''
, f t...,i .- c.niar,.Dnt the cia.flr -ha. lave
,... d., 3D.. .-.. d. vote enclosed ln an Official