Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-08
ESSENTIALS OF A REFORM BALLOT
SYSTEM

We are gratified to note that he press
of the State has taken up the discussion Of
the reform ballot system. 1t is indicative
of feeling that the forthcoming Legisla-
ture Must consider and pass upon some bill
looking in the direction of a reformation
of our system of balloting.
The San Francisco Chronicle, which has
at least been consistent in its adhesion to
the California ballot system, and its oppo-
sition to the reform ballot, points out that
the Democratic party in this State is
pledged by its platform to the form
adopted by Massachusetts, and that the
system of the Bay State is by no means
faultiess.
This is not strictly true. The Demo-
cratic platform refers to the Massachusetts
system as indicating what it means by
modified Australian system. 1t is not to
be read as binding the party absolutely to
the Massachusetts plan. What the clear
meaning of the platform is, cannot be mis-
taken-that is, that some system substan-
TALLY like those in use in several States
and which are notifications of the Austria
liam system, shall be adopted in California,
the two great purposes to be kept in view
being absolute secrecy of the ballot, and
inability to COW the voter and make pur-
chases of votes with any certainty that the
goods will be delivered" However, it is
the Republican party that must be held
responsible for ballot law this winter.
There are nine different systems in force
in the United States based upon the fund
amental principles of the Australian law.
There is but one OF these that is gravely
defective, that of the State of New York,
which permits single ''pasters" to be used,
or full-sheet paster ballot to be prepared
and used by political party agencies.
Nevertheless, even with this serious fault
the new law in that State has proved to be
great advance upon the old one
The Chronicle objects to the blanket
ticket" by which it means ballot on
which the names of all the candidates are
printed. Wherever there has been impair
tial examination of the system by fair
minded men, this has been found to be the
very least of objections worthy of any con-
sideration. There is not such material
difference to the voter between sheet of
paper a inches wide and y to Is inches
long, as with US IN California, and one
even 10 inches wide and 20 inches long.
Really the voter can more easily handle
the latter and select the names he desires
to vote for than he can four or FIVE distinct
ballots of the California kind This will
be seen to be especially true when it is re-
called that under our system the four or
i've single ballots may swell to twenty in
number by reason of dozen or more side
issue and switch ballots being put into the
field, with the names of candidates of side
show parties printed in among the nomi-
nees of the greater parties.
There are six chief things to be at
tanned by ballot-reform law, and all
other matters relating to it are but affairs
of minor detail. These essentials are.
|. That the State or county or city shall !
PRINT and furnish the ballots, and no Others
snail be used at or about the polls
). That the voter shall receive his ballot
Of the ballot clerk, at the polls, and pass
at once into booth to mark it in privacy,
and free from any oversight or domina-
tion.
8. That, when marked, he shall return
the identical ballot delivered to him by
the clerk, who identifies it by the number
on its outer fold corresponding with the
number of the stub from which the ballot
was torn and with the same number re-
corded on the poll-list
4. That the ballot number shall be de-
tached by or in the presence of the voter
and destroyed, and the identity of the bal
lot thus eflaced, whereupon the voter shall
proceed to cast his ballot.
5. That the boards of election shall re-
turn to the authority issuing the books of
ballots stubs equal in number to the bal
lots cast into the box and called for by the
poll-list.
6. That all the candidates shall be
named on the official ballot, with their
political designation accompanyingor above
the name.
1t is better We Judge, from a study Of all
the systems, to adopt the plan of Indiana,
that is, to print each party ticket on the
ballot with the party vignette at the
head of the party column that voters
may, by stamping with a stamp fur
nished, in the square printed for the
purpose opposite the party title, vote a
straight ticket. This plan avoids any pos
sible confusion in the voters mind that
might arise with some, in picking out
names by political designation set opposite
each name in unindicated columns. But
in the Indiana ballot, in addition to each
column representing a political party, the
abbreviation "Dem.," "Rep," PRO" or
lind" is also set opposite each name.
1t is to be here noted that the Indiana
ballot at the late election contained the
Democratic, Republican, Prohibition and