The morning call., 1890-06-01
AUSTRALIAN
BALLOT LAW.
Bill to Be introduced in the
Next Legislature.
Address Prepared by the Federated Trades
Setting Forth Their Reasons for the
Desired Reform.
The following address has been issued by
the Federated Trades:

lamented IN our election laws.
The opportunities for fraud, Tor the corrupt
purchase Of votes and The intimidation of de-
rendent voters have caused the growth of organ
izations OF professional conupters and manlpu-
lators of elections, whose business Is Ihe barter.
Ing OF special privileges and governmental fay-
oTs, IN addition 10 securing the ordinary DOLLS of
office. To such an extent have the civil depart
menIs OF our Government become honey combed
with corruption through these vicious results OF
our present election system that The very exist
tnce Of our free institutions is threatened, and
the possibility of sel-gOyernment under sys-
TEN OF universal suffrage brought into serious
Ques ton.
these growing and dangerous political vices,
several Of our sister States have adopted the
measure known as the Australian ballot, The es-
sentlal features OF which are as follows
First-ln order that all candidates for pubic
Office, who are reasonably recommended, shall
be placed, without personal or party expense, in
position of equal advantage with all other can
didates for the same office. before all electors, all
ballots are made official, and are printed and dis
trlbuted at public expense. and The names OF all
Candidates for the same office are printed in
consecutive order on the same ballot.
BLOW AT BUCKLEY.
Second-FOr the purpose OF securing absolute
secrecy OF the ballot, thus preventing the cor
rupt purchase aud intimidation OF voters, all bal
lots delivered 10 the voter within the polling
place on election day by sworn public officials.
Only official ballots so delivered can be voted,
The voter must prepare and deposit his ballot
before leaving the polling place. and must be
provided with an absolutely private booth for
the preparation Of his ballot, ihe secrecy OF the
ballot being made compulsory. except that blind
and tllteraIe voters are permitted, under proper
restrictions, to select Il sworn election ofhcer TO
assist them In making their ballots.
Thrd-V0teIs are accorded the right to noml-
male candidates for any OF all offices By properly
certified petitions signed by reasonable num-
Der (iXed by the law OF qualified electors.
The accompanying proposed election law,
drafted by a committee Of this organization,
makes provision for all of tie reforms above
enumerated and contains the best features, ac-
cording 10 cur Judgment, OF all OF the election
reform laws recently adopted and now in sue
cessiul operation in other States, and contains
also certain additional safeguards against posi-
bic lraudsl Tor example. Tie identification OF
official ballots by water-maIk. a provision for
detachng numbers from ballots when voted to
prevent future identification of the voter, and
provides for The numbering of the names of The
candidates in consecutive order TO facilitate the
preparation OF tickets.
We invite your cooperation in our effort to
secure tie election CT members of the State
Legislature who VIII work aud vote for the en-
acIment OF the proposed law.
CoUNcIL OF FEDERATED TRADES.
AS PROPOSED.
The proposed bill is entitled IAN act to provide
for the conduct of elections, and TO more fully Sc
the independence of electors and the secrecy
OF the ballot and in substance it provides that all
ballots in elections for public officers stall be
printed and distributed at public expense.
ANY convention held for the purpose of making
nominations TO public Office and also electors to
the number specified, may nominate candidates for
public Offices. a convention within the meaning of
this act is an organized assemUlage of delegates
representing political party which, at the last
election before the holding OF such convention,
pced at least per cent of the entire vote cast in
the State county district or other political division
for which the nomination is made.
All nominations made by any such convention
shall be certified in writing and shall contain the
name Of each person nominated, and shan desiS-
nate the party or principle which such convention
represents.
otherwise than by convention by a certificate Of
nomination containing the name OF the candidate
signed by electors residing within the district or
political DIVISION, equal Ia NUMBER 10 at least
per cent of the entire vote cast al the last preceding
election IN the political division Tor which the
nomination IS to be made; provided that luOO sig
shall be sufficient for the nomination of i
candidate for any office IN this state.
Certificates OF nomination Shall be fled with the
Secretary OF State for the nomination of candidates
for State Offices or House OF Representatives. Ger
Secretary of the legislative BODY of any moor
porated city or town for the nomination OF any can
dldate for an ofice under the government OF any
city town. For all other nominations to public
onlces eerlheates oil nomination snaii De hied WIN
the clerks or the respective counties wherein the
Offices are TO be filed No certificate OF nomination
shall contain the name OF more than one candidate
for each ONCE to be filled.
BALLOTS, HOW PROVIDED.
Except as otherwise provided, il shall be the duty
OF County Clerk Of each county, of the County
Clerk of any consolidated city and county, TO pro-
vide separate printed ballots for every election for
city ana county officers in which the electors any
OF the electors OF such county city and county
participate, and TO cause to be printed in such
separate ballots the name OF every candidate for
county or city aud county Office whose name has
been fled with the said County Clerk In the manner
provided All ballots Shall be Of the necessary size
and shape TO contain the names OF all candidates,
together with the necessary blank spaces herein
after provided for and shall be printed on paper fur
nished by the Secretary OF State. 1t shall be the
duty OF the Secretary of State TO obtain and keep
on Eand surcient sapply OF paper for ballots and
20 furnish the ia quantities ordered, to any
Coglty Clerk Clerk or Secretary of the legis
atiye boiIy OF any Incorporated nv or 3IIfn
payment by them of the cost of such paper Sufh
naper shall be watermarked with a design to be .ur-
nished by the Secretary of State, in such manner
that She said wsterHark shall DO plainly disCeruibe
the outside OF such ballot when folded according
to law. Such design shall lie kept secret from all
nor Or uy1r ed n tint nu
distribution Of the paper or ballots, until
the day of election. Such design shall be changed.
for each general election. All ballots shall con:
tain the name Of every candidate whose nomination
for any office specified in the ballot has been certi-
fed to aud flied according to the provisions of the
act and no other name. The names OF the eaudi-
dates for each office shall be arranged under the
designation of the Office in alphabetical order.
There shall be left the end OF the list OF candi-
dates for each different Office many blank spaces
there persons to be elected to such Office. in
which the voter may Insert the name OF any person
not printed on the ballot for whom he desires to
vote candidate for such office.
Before the opening of the polls at any election
within any county. the County Clerk of the county
shall be delivered the Boards Election
OF each election precinct the proper number of
tickets. At the same time two ballotcierks for each
election precinct shall be appointed whose duty it
shall be to charge of the ballots day of
election and TO furnish them to the voters.
MARKING THE BALLOTS.
The.oGcers OF ELECTION shall cause tobe provided
aball9f-box to be marked on the outside '.General
IlcketSn and when any: CITY sity and county; or
To be marked ON the outside Municipal Tickets
and sill Ill prOXide aSuf1cent places,
booths or Compartments at in. which voters. may
Conveniently mark their ballots that In marking
thereof they.!ay Ire screened from the observation
OF Others, and guard-ral shall be so constructed
andplaced that only such persons are inside said
rail can approach within SIX feet of the ballot
boxes and Of such booths or compartments.
The arrangements shall be such that neither
the ballot boxes nor the box booths
OF compartments shall be hidden from the view of
those just outside the guard rail- The number of
such yoting-booths or compartments shall not be
less than one Tor every NIFTY elsctors qualified to
vote III the precinct No person other than electors
engaged IN receiving, preparing or eepositlng their
ballots shall be permitted to be within said rail be
fore the closing Of the polls except by authority Of
the Board Of Election, and then only for the pur
pose OF keeping order and enforcing the law. Each
Of said vong-booths or compartments shall be kept
provided with proper supplies and conveniences for
Any person desiring to vote shall give his name
and address to one of the ballot clerks, who shall
then In an audible tone OF voice, announce the
same, and II the other ballot clerk finds the
the register he shall In like repeat the
and address, and shall write on the register. oppo-
site the name OF the voter, the number OF the gen.
eral ticket given him, aud also the number of the
county, or town ofieer is to be elected and the
voter shall be allowed enter the place inclosed
CLERK shall give him one general ticket" and
where any city. city aud county or town officers
to be elected, also one municipal Ticket" and only
one ballot Of each kind
METHOD OF VOTING.
On receipt of his ballot the elector shall forth
with aud without leaving the incosed space, retire
alone TO one of the places, booths compartments
provided TO prepare his ballot. He shall prepare
his ballot by marking cross after the OF the
person or persons FOR whom he intends to vote thus
X; and in case of a constitutional amendment or
other question submitted to the vote OF the people
by marking in the appropriate margin cross (X)
against the answer which he desires to give Before
leaving the voting booth compartment the
elector should fold his ballot iu such manner that
the watermark and the number of the ballot
without displaying the marks thereon, and
shall keep II so folded until he has voted.
Having folded his ballot the voter shall deliver it
folded to the inspector, who shall announce In an
audible tore of voice the name OF the and the
ufnita af n G he els rk hay ha