Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-10-13
The Australian Ballot System

There has been considerable SAID
in the newspapers of the state OF late
relative to the Australian ballot sys-
TEN. 1t has been claimed that 1t is
a thing worthy of being adopted III
this state. Governor Page, in his
admirable message, intimates that
he favors the plan. The Legislature
has already a bill looking to that END
under consideration, and there is
necessarily considerable discussion IN
regard to it in all directions. Our
readers, probably, understand what
the system is, but we will state that
the method of voting called the Aus
tralian system, originated, or was
put in operation first in some parts OF
Australia. The ballots are prepared
by the state, city or municipality.
They are uniform in color, size, etc.
The names of all the candidates of
the different parties are each printed
on the same ballot, the voter being
requested to check off, or to indicate
by some prescribed method, the names
of such candidates or candidate as
he wishes to vote for. In order to
do this without fear, bias or influence
from political friend or foe, he enters
room alone, or more frequently
room in which only one official is
present, and there, either by himself,
or bv the assistance of the official, Sc
| lects and marks the names of the per-
sons he wishes to ballot for. He then
deposits his ballot in the box.
Of course the object of the system
is to place the voter in that security
from the sight and the influence of
others as to permit him to cast his
vote for just whom he wishes.
The system has been tried in many
places and has seemingly proved ben
efcial. In localities where the vot-
er is influenced by party heelers,
creditors, employers, ETC., the voting
is more honorable and more free, and
hence better.
But we hardly see the necessity at
present for resorting to the method
in Vermont. Our voters are indie
pendent-for the greater part honest.
There are few places where voting is
controlled or influenced by outside
parties. We think it safe to say that
the ballot in this state is practically
free, measurably pure. No system
does or can prevent, entirely, some
sort of wrong voting.
To adopt the method in this state
will entail considerable expense ; vot
ing can not be as rapidly performed
as by the present system, and the
great mass of honest voters are no
vet ready to adopt the closet system
of casting their ballots. The setting
ND of a caboose, cupboard or cell in
the voting room, through which the
voter must pass before he drops his
vote seems to say to voters, you are
either knaves or fools-you vote cor.
ruptly, or you do not know how tc
vote intelligently. 1t doesn't seen
that Vermont has come to that con
dition OF state of political corruption
when it is necessary to make the Sc
cret ballot necessity.
Personally it would not be pleas
ant thing to acknowledge that we ha(
become so ignorant, so wicked, or 81
subject to corrupting influences a
not to be able to select our vote il
: open daylight. Certainly it woul
not be a pleasant thing to emerg
p from some "cubby' hole, throug
I which we had been compelled to pas
e in order to obtain and prepare a vote
! Nor should the method be adopte
v here solely because other people c
O other states are adopting it. 1t wi
be early enough to take the secre
t ballot when necessity demands il
= The American people are given t
It stampeding in the direction of ne
e things, new notions, new follie;
n Wait. Let those states try it wheI
:, the parties are closely balanced
i where vote traffic and political CO.
l. ruption abound. We hope our legi'
l. lators will not get their heads craze
l. over this idea too soon. Legislature
h have done some very foolish thing
e by being in hurry, or in listenin
to, the clamors of the press and tt
people. There are some very beaut
/ full posies that die the first season.