Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-01-15
1HE BALLOT BILL

As introduced in tho House BY
M. Cllson.
Il DOES not Differ Materially from The
Looney BIZ.
Additions to and Modincstions Of
Similar Measures.
The initiatory steps toward legislation on
the Australian ballot system vas taken in
the House Wednesday morning soon after
conyening. 0. B. Ciason Of Gardiner pre-
sented the following bill which 10 the
Looney bill with slight notifications and
few additions:
An act to provide for printing and distlibut-
ing ballots at the public expense and to
regulate voting for State and city cleo
tions.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of the Legislature, as
folloics:
See /. All ballots in elections for M
tional, state, district and county officers in
cities and tovns after the first day of
September in the year eighteen hundred
and ninety two. and all ballots cast in
municipal elections in ciiies after that date.
shall be printed and distributed at public
expense as hereafter provided The pint
ing Of the ballots and cards Of instructions
to voters shall in municipal elections In
cities be paid for by the several cities re-
spectively, and in all other elections the
printing of the ballots and cards of instruc-
tons. and the delivery Of them to the sew
eral cities and towns, shall be paid for BY
the State. The distribution of the ballots
to the voters shall be paid for by the cities
and towns respectively.
The term State election ~ used in
this act, shall apply to any election held
for the choice Of national State, district
or county officer, whether for full term
or for the filing of vacancy and the term
State officer" shall apply to any person to
be chosen by the qualified voters at such
an election. The term "city elections"
shall apply to any municipal election so
held in city and the term "city officer"
shall apply to any person to be chosen by
the qualified voters at such an election.
Nominations OF Candidates.
Sec. 2. ANY convention Of delegates,
and any caucus or meeting of qualified
voters, as hereinafter defined, and individ-
usl voters to the number and in the manner
hereinafter specified. may nominate candi-
dates for public office, whose names shall be
placed upon the ballots to be furnished o.
herein provided.
Sec. 3. Any convention of delegates
representing political party which, at the
gunernatorisl election next preceding,
polled at least one per cent. Of the entire
vote cast in the State for governor. or in
the electoral district or division thereof
for which the nomination is made, and any
caucusses called and held by such politi
cal party in any such electoral district or
division for which the convention or eau
Gus is held, ~ the case NAV be, by
causing a certificate of nomination to be
duly filed, make one such pomina
ton for each Office therein to be q I'D at
the election. Every such certificate Of
nomination shall state such facrs as
may be required as above for its sccsp
this act; shsil be signed by the presiding
officer and by the secretary of the conven-
ton or caucus. y no shali sd thereto their
places of residence and shall be sworn by
them to be true TO the best of their knowl-
edge and belief, and . certificate Of The
oath shall be annexed to the certificate Of
nomination.
See 4. Nominations of candidates for
~. al h,,A - H.
Sate at large may be made by nomination
papers signed IN the aggregate for each can
didste by not less than one thousand qusli-
fed voters of the State. Nominations Of
candidates for electoral districts or div's-
ions of the State may be made by nomina
ton papers signed in the aggregate for
each candid.te by qualife voters of such
dieuict or division, not LEES in number
than one for every one hundred
persons who voted at the next pre-
cedirg Gubernatorial election in such
district or division, but in no
case less than fiftv In the case of a first
election to be held in town or ward rewly
esrsbiished, the number of fifty shall De
sufficient for the nomination of q candidate
who is to be .o'ed for only in such town or
ward. and 10 the case of a fret election in
. district or tiv,sion newly es'ablisht d,
other than town or ward the number OF
fifty shall he 90 sufficient Esch voter
signing nomination p,per shall make his
signature in person and add t, it his place
of residence and each voter may sub.
scribe to one nomination to each
eff ,e TO be filed. and no more
The nomination paners shall before be
mig lied be respectively submitted to the
clerks Of the cities or towns in which the
signers purport TO be qualified voters, and
each clerk 10 whom the same is submitted
shall fort a ith certify thereon what mum.
Der of the signatures are names of qualif fed
voters both in the city or tswn for which
he is a clerk and in the district or division
for which the nomination Is made; one oil
the signers to each such separate papei
shall swear that the statements therein are
true, to the best of bis knowledge and be
lief, and the certificate Of such cath thal
be annexed.
| Sec All certificates OF nomination
| and nomination papers shall, be,ides con
| tanning the names of candidates, specify a
| to each % the office for which he is nom
mated; (2) the party or poll icsl principle
which he represe nfs, expressed in not more
than three words; 60 his place Of resi-
dence, with street and number thereon. IL
any. In the case Of electors Of presid. n
and vice president Of the United Safes, tn.
names of the caDd dates for president an
vice president NAV be added to the paitJ
or political spellstion.
| Sec C. Cert fcates of nomi nation o.
candidates for State or county off GERS shai
BE- filed with the Secretary Of State at less
fourteen days exclusive of Sundays previ
Qua to the day Of the election for which
the candidates are nomina ed. Such GER
hacatss and papers for the nomination o
candidates for The Office Of mayor and al
other city Offices in cities shall be file'
with the city clerk. of The Ye.pe' tive citie'
at least ten days exclusive of Sundays pre-
vious to the day Of such election.
Sec. Z The certificates of nomination
and pomin alton papers so fled, and beini
in apparent conformity with the provi.ion,
of this act, shall be deemed to be valid
url 50 objection thereto is duly made il
wri'ing. Such objections or other quss
tons arising in rel-tion thereto in the cas-
Of nomina,ions of State or county officer,
shall be cnn.iiersd bv the Secretary o
State and the Adm ant General ard At
tnrnsy General, and the decision Of ths
m iority of these officers shall be O lal
Such objections or questions arising in th'
case Of nominations Of city offiesrs sb.l
be considered by the municipal officers
and heir decision shall be fnal In cas-
such obi ction Is made, notice shall forth
| with be msiled TO the ca,didatss sffec q
thereby. addressed to their re.id d-nces a
given in the certificates Of domination o
! nomin ation DaneYs