The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-21

49, SAtH LOS " RtORkttl w kflA4L utAN
alton with that imposed upon the prop
erty of individuals.
BALLOT REFORM AND HONEST ELECTIONS.
The best sentiment Of the countryin ali
the States demands. ballot reform and
honest elections.
The safeguards which the law has
thrown around the ballothave been found
insufficient to prevent fraud, the intinli-
dation of the voter and the corrupt use of
money in elections. The oaths Of election
officers have not always prevented them
from tampering with the ballot box,
and receiving and counting fraudulent
votes. The great mass of election officers
are honest and conscientious in the dis
charge Of their duty, but there are
a few who will violate their oaths
of office and run the risk of pun
ishment, to change or attempt to
change the result of elections. There
are citizens entitled to ballot who, not
withstanding the penalties of the law,
deliberately sell their votes, or demand
money for voting in accordance with
their political convictions. Men of high
standing contribute large sums of money
which, in many instances, are used by dis
reputable party agents to bride voters Or
election officers. The penalties of the
law seem inipotent to stop these
practices. This conditio. Of affairs is an
evil that every honest citizen should use
his best energies to stamp out by radical
measures.
Different systems and notifications Of
systems have been tried in different COM
munities. The experience Of these com
munities will enable us to exercise an in
telligent Judgment in securing legiSla-
ton in Our State which will give us pure
elections, expressing only the honest SEN
timent of the muses..
Without reproducing and contrasting
the various opinions Of distinguished
men, and of organizations which favor
this reform, | present for your considera-
ton the conclusions which / have reached,
after the most careful investigation and
study of what has been written and said
upon this subject, and of what has been
accomplished under the laws Of other
States and countries.
Every law on this subject should EN-
brace the following essential features.-
First-Registration of every voter in
the State, with registry list subject to
judicial revision.
Second-Absolute secrecy of the ballot.
10 secure this there should be an en-
closure within which the voter shall be
free from all influence, supervision or
control. In that enclosure there should
be q compartment which he must enter,
and where, in secret, he would have the
opportunity to prepare his ballot. From
this compartment he should proceed
directly to the ballot box with a folded
ballot. This he should offer to tine Elec-
ton Board, who should deposit it in the
boxin the sam condition, subject only
to rejection for legal reasons. Ii the bal
lot is rejected it should be returned to the
voter without inspection.
Third-Ihere should be an exclusively
official ballot, printed and distributed by
the State, SO that one ballot cannot be
distinguished from another when it is
folded and ready for voting. The law
should prohibit the use of any ballot ex-
cept the official ballot.
Fourth-Provision for judicial action,
by which an election in any precinct may
be set aside and a new election ordered
therein, whenever the judge oil court
shall be satisfied that there has been
fraud, bribery or other illegal practices
which would affect the result, or where,
by reason of death or resig-
nation of any candidate, the failure TO
supply voters with tickets, or for any
other cause, the electors have been de-
prived of q fair opportunity to express
their choice at the Dallot-box. All such
proceedings should be summary. When a
new election Is ordered, it should be call
ed for the earliest possible day. The Court
or Judge shonld be empowered to make a
final certificate of election whenever such
new election changes the result.
Fifth-The right OF nomination by petit
ton should be given when a certain per-
centage of the voters ask therefor.
5ixth-No ticket should be printed or
distributed unless the parties nominated
thereon have signified in writing their
acceptance of such nomination.
STANDARDIZATION that certain judi
cial officers shall provide for the printing
and distribution of official ballots where
there has been failure to act ON the part
of the proper officers.
Eighth-Ail forms of intimidation,
hrih n,.x NJ. illoroI nruokfooc chnr111 h. AZ
clared to be criminal. Every voter
should have secured to him the opportun-
lily to vote, and sufficient time should be
allowed him therefor. 1t should be made
a crime to infringe upon this right, or to
impose any penalty or disadvantage upon
the voter exercising such right.
Ninth-There should be a limitation of
the amount which may be leagally spent
in or for any election. An election should
be declared void il such limit shall be
exceeded by a candidate, or by
any persons acting for or in his behalf,
with his knowledge. An election in any
precinct should also be declared void
any judicial officer shall ascer-
tain that such limitation has been grossly
exceeded in that precinct, even without the
of the candidate, if the vote of
such precinct might change the result of
the election.
~Tenth-The law should provide for pub
Lefty of election expenditures, and a
candidate should be required to publish
and file Of record Immediately after an
an itemized statement, under
oath, of all the moneys expended at such
election by him, or with his KNOWLEDGE.
The failure to file such a statement
yacate his Office and render void
his election. The court should be given
The power to compel the appearance of
any person before it to be examined, I'M
Ter oath, concerning political expendi-
lures, and also to require, OF such exami-
nation, the production of the books and
of corporations. associations or in |
liyiduals.
EeUeRth-It should compel everyone |
a bride or receiving a bride,
as a voter or as al election officer,
% testify in regard thereto. with a pro-
5ision that such testimony should not be
Used against such witness in any criminal
II other proceeding whatever.
will permit, for the disquali- |
thereafter of any voter, or other
violating any provision of such
In considering legislation on this sub |
ect, we must bear III mind the provisions
If u own Constitution. Our Constitution |
nc educational or property qualifi- |
to entitle & citizen TO suffrage. In
hese respec S it is different from the
Constitutions OF some of the other states. |
The law should contain 10 provisions
which would unduly hamper the voter in
he exercise of his right of suffrage. III
m satisfied, however, from a careful ex-
animation OF this subject, that there is no
PRACTICAL difficulty, ven where the voter
nay lack educational qualifications, in
aanhsaor 1tx, 4N Y,,ottr ~, 14esa a,. = "a ns.t |