The record-union., 1891-10-10
THE new BALLOT.
Information for the Benefit of the
Voting Public.
Modified Australian Ballot Systemic
Must Govern the Coming School
and Charter Election.

On the first Monday in December the
citizens of Sacramento will be called upon
to elect several School Directors and also
to vote on the question of electiug fifteen
freeholders to frame new charter.
That election must be held under the
general election law, as passed at the last
session of the Legislature. This en-
braces what is known as the "refor1n" or
modified Australian ballot system. 1t is
so wide departure from all the laws
that have governed elections in this State
in the past that citizens should familiar
lze themselves with its features. Especl-
ally should all officials whose duty 1t is to
set the new machinery in motion study
it well, to the end that no mistakes may
occur to mar the smoothness Of its opera
ton.
In order that all may be fully informed
as to the chief features and working plan
of the new ballot system, the RECORD
UNION has condensed the law into the
following brief space, by emitting such
portions of it as do not apply to muni-
cipal elections. A sample ballot is also
given, showing the style of those to be
used at the coming election:
1t is essential then that this law should
be thoroughly understood. An impress
sion has been sought to be made by enc
mics of the law that it is intricate in
volved, and not easy of comprehension,
and that it will therefore operate to con-
fuse voters and deprive some Of them of
their rights. Nothing could be farther
from the truth. The law is simple, easily
understood and not at all involved.
It is essential to the observance of the
law that every detail required of city
officials in the matter of preparation
should be attended to, and SO early that
all the limits of the law presented regard
ing notices and other matters may be
followed to the letter Any blundering
will be unpardonable. In the Oakland
election several errors were made, not
ably in the preparation of the booths, the
railing about the same, etc.
There can be now no excuse given for
any failure to follow the law in its spirit
and explicit direction as TO the giving of
notices, the printing of instructions, the
preparation of sample ballots, the regis
Eration of nominations, the form of the
ballot, etc.
In one instance in this State the spirit
of the law was defed by separating the
space where the ballot-boxes should stand
from the voters preparation booths by an
open area, SO that electors had to pass
through crowds to 90 from the booths to
the boxes, and thus be exposed to the
COW or the persuasion Of strikers and
boss ieutenants. The booths must be
1 IL L.
and SO that the voter can pass from one To
the other without any interruption, and
without being exposed to contact with
any one. So, too, the rail to exclude the
public must yet be so placed that the peo-
pie can see the ballot-boXes and into the
preparation booths at one and the same
time.
If the simple, unmistakable directions
of the law are followed, and the diagrams
of the arrangement of the polls in other
States where a similar law obtains are
consulted, the Sacramento election can be
conducted smoothly and without any
mistakes.
If the officials put off the planning OF
the election booths and the arrangements
for their construction, they will cost con
siderably more than if plenty Of time is
taken, for economy is to be subserved by
beginning early in these details. If the
booths, ratings, etc. ARE properly planned
and constructed, they viii serve the pur-
poses of the city for many years; if they
are i'll constructed and hastily thrown to-
gether, the work will have to be done
over for the spring election, and thus
money be wasted.
If the city starts right under the new
law it will be put to but slight expense
hereafter in providing the essentials fol
The conduct of polling places.
WHO PRINTS THE BALLoTs-cARDs OF
INSTRUCTION.
All ballots shall be printed and distrib
uted at public expense. The printin!
and delivering of municipal tickets,
and also in case of separate elections 70,
city, city and county or town officers
the printing and delivering of cards OF in
struction shall be charge upon the city
city and county or town in which Sucl
municipal tickets" and cards OF instruc
ton are to be used, and the payment b.
provided for as are payments of othe
city, city and county or town expenses.
WHAT a CONVENTION Is.
Any convention may nominate candi
ton within the State. a convention
within the meaning of this Act, is an or
ganized assemblage of delegates repre-
senting political party which, at the las
election before the holding of such con
gention, polled at least three per cent. O
the entire vote of the State, county, dis
trict or other political division for whicl
the nomination is made.
CERTIFYING NOMINATIONS.
All nominations made by any sucl
convention shall be certified as follows
The certificate of nomination, which mus
be in writing, shall contain the name o
each person nominated, his residenc
and the Office for which b
is nominated, and shall desig
nate the party or principle which sucl
convention represents. il shall be signeC
by the Chairman and Secretary of sucl
convention, who shall aud 10 their sigma
lures their respective places of residence
and make oath that the matter stated il
such certificate is true to the best OF thei
knowledge and belief, and certificate g
the oath shall be annexed TO the certifi
cate of nomination.
NOMINATING CANDIDATES BY SIGMA
TUREs.
A candidate for public Office may
nominated otherwise than by conVen
ton in the manner following: A certifi
cate Of nomination containing the nam
of the candidate 10 be nominated, wit
the other information required 10
given in the certificates provided for i
section ]. .lS7 of this Code, shall be Signe
by electors residing within the district Q
political division Tor which candidate
are to be presented, equal in number
at least per cent, of the entire vote cas-
at the last preceding election in the STATE