The sun., 1891-05-25
Tho Now Election Law.

BY repeating tho law
Tho Now Election Law.
Last years election was the first to be
held in this State under the new ballot law.
It was also tho last election to be held under
It, for the Legislature has done away with
many OF it's provisions and substituted so
many new ones as to make practically a new
Low. Here are the chief changes:
Under last years law the signatures Of
1000 New York electors were required to put
in nomination candidates for State Offices.
This year the number is raised to 5000. Lost
year the number Of signatures necessary
for county, Congress. or municipal NOM
ination, outside Of New York and Kings
county. was $50. This year 1t Is 500. Lust
year the number Of signatures required for
independent nominations In New York city
and Kings county was 800. This year it Is
raised to GOO. Last year the number of sig
natures for IN independent nomination Tor
Alderman or Assemblyman in New York
or Brooklyn was 100. This yearit is $50.
Under last years law certificate OF inde-
pendent nomination ior State Office could
not be filed until forty days before election.
This year it may be filed sixty days before.
Last year 1t could be filed up to any
time within fifteen days Of election.
Now tho certificate must be ut the
Secretary Of States Office one month before
election day. Regular party nominations
Tor State offices could not be filed less than
twenty-five days before election or
more than forty days. Now they can
be put IN sixty days, and not less than
forty, ahead OF election. In other words, a
SAFE canvass cannot now last less than
six weeks. Under the provisions OF last year
it need not lust more than four.
Similar changes have been made regard
ing local municipal nominations. These
could be filed with tho County Clerk by any
regular organization last year not more than
thirty days nor less than twenty days. This
year they can be filed as long ahead as sixty
days. aud not less than thirty. This means
the addition OF ten days to the dura-
tion Of the canvass for local offices. Inde-
pendent nominations could not be filed until
within month Of election. This year they
can be filed two months in advance. Last
year independent organizations had until
twelve days before election to put in their
nominations. This year the last day to file
them Is twenty days In advance.
Last year q candidate nominated by a
regular organization could decline any time
up to twelve days before election; this year
his refusal to run must be filed eight
days earlier. An independent candidate
last year could withdraw ten days be-
fore election day; this year he must file
a declaration OF his refusal fifteen days
ahead, or have his name printed on one OF
tho official tickets without recourse OF any
hind Tho In ar Io tn cuhStitIt IN n 10 n b;dot,
chosen to I'LL q vacancy on the ticket was,
last year. tho eighth day before election:
this year tho law makes it the tenth. This
year tho number of official tickets supplied
to each polling place is reduced onc-hclf.
This will mako considerable saving OF
expense. Another change in the law will re-
suit In saving Of time, II not Of money, for
tho Initials Of tho ballot clerks viii! not be
required on tho stubs Of tickets, as was
tho case in November. Last year tho name
printed upon paster superseded tho name
Oh tho Official ticket over which the paster was
placed. That provision Is modified this yenr.
for where thrco candidates arc on n ticket
for nm o(flcs and tho pastor COOS not include
thrco namcs tho pastor does not count.
Thus. threo Coroncrs arc to be- elected in New
York this year. II an eHctor aIlSes to his
official ticket the namo Of ono candidate for
Coroner, printed on pastor. his vote for
chat candidate does not count. Hc must
vote for three. II llo uses paster.
Tho most'sweeping change In tho new law,
however, is that which restricts an indc-
pendent party to ono ticket only. instead of
such combinations Of names as could bo
mado last year. Tho effect Of this will he
to exclude independent candidates from
future contests. though. oddly enough, the
supporters OF Independent candidatnre
were up to year ago the most claraorous
advocates for new electoral law.
Besides restricting to ono ticket any
candidate nominated by certificate to any
o1lcc. State or local. this years law puts. In
the following words, in the hands OF every
candidate nominated 5ya regular organi- |
zation the right to forbid tho use of his |
nnme on any other ticket:
"Ths name Of person nominated under the provi- |
seps Of this act shall not bs placed upon ticket put
AomiuAon BY osrtncAts when said person shall have
ciicsr with whom his certificate Of nomination was |
died. nv writinx signed and duly acknowledged that
he docs not wlsh his name Placed on such ticket"
The practical effect OF the TWO changes |
last mentioned will DO n great reduc-
tion IN tho number OF tickets put In tho
hands OF each voter. Instead of ten or
twelve separate tickets, as was tho case last
year. there will only be four. or. Mt the
outside fke. This will be great saving
Of time and will prevent recurrence OF
much of the confusion which existed at tho
last election. There will also be large
reduction Of expense. though the number OF
election of1cers will remain tho same at each