Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-11-27
THE NEW ELECTION LAW.


next and therefore the Fall election OF next
year will probably be the first in tie. state
held under it, but it must be prepared tor
by the 1st Of March.
1t requires an official ballet, which is 10
be furnished to the different election
boards by the County Commissioners; and
the Secretary of the Commonwealth Is to
furnish the forms of the ballots to the Com
missionsrs of esch comfy.
Hereafter the Presidents and Secretaries
of political convsntions-couBty, district
and State-must certify the nominations
made By such conventions for Assembly,
State Senste, Judges, Congressman, Presi-
dentisl Electors and all State officers to
the Secretary of the mmonweslth at
least fifty-s elk days before the election; and
nominations for county officers to the coun-
l ty Commissioners as least forty-two days
before the election; and nominations made
by borough and township meetings must
be filed with the borough or township aud
itors at least ten days before the day OF
election.
| No political party that cast less than
| three per cent of the largest entire vote Tor
| any Office cast in the State at the proceed
| ing election, can have the names OF their
nominees printed on the official ballot, ex-
cepting by nomination paper" signed
| by one half of one per cent of tho largest
vote for any State officer at the preceding
election, if State nomination; or three
percent Of the largest vote in the district
if district nomination, AID these must be
! filed with the Secretary or Commissioners
| forty nine and thirty five days before the
| election.
| Certificates of nominations must be
| sworn to. the signatures to nomination pa
pers must be vouched for by the atfidavlts
of at lest five Of the signcrs; and both must
specify the party or policy to which they
belong in three, or less, words; the appel
\ lations not to conflict.
Then, if none of the candidates with
draw, or If no objections are filed to the NOM
nations, provision for both of which con-
| tingsncies is made in the law, the Secretary
| of the Commonwealth shall, at least ten
| days before the election, transmit dupli-
| cate official lists of all the nominees to be
voted for in that county to the County
Commissioners and Sheriff, and the Coun-
ty Commissioners are to give the Sheriff a
list of the nominees certified to them; and
the Sheriff is to name them all in his prsc-
| lsmation; and the County Commissioners
are to have the tickets printed; each ballot
TO contain the names of all the candidates,
arranged in political groups, with blank
voter can write other names if he wishes,
and the voter will make q (X) opposite the
head Of the ticket he wishes to vote, or If
he does not wish to vote straight" ticket
he will make q (X) opposite the name OF
each individual he wishes to vote for, or
fill in the blank spaces with other names.
All the ballots used at any oas voting
place are to be alike, and the Commission
srs are to furnish the election officers two
sets of them of not less than seventy-iive
for each fifty voters, bound together and
sent 1t different times, with instructions
for voting, two 90 pies Of the assessors list
of voters, and ballot and voting check
lists, etc.
For township and borough elections tho |
auditors Of the same are to provide the 1
tickets, and do the other duties prescribed /
for County Commissioners in the general
elections, and certify the cost of same TO
the County Commissioners for payment.
The County Commissioners are also TO (
provide election rooms, furnished with yot- /
ing booths-one for each fifty voters, aud |
in no cass less than thres-a guard laii I
across the room, ballot boxes, light, heat, !
lead pencils in booths for marking the
tickets, etc. If Unnecessary they are to con
struct temporary room. The first cost OF
these fixtures is to be borne by the State,
but the county is to keep them in repair |
A commission consisting of the three State
officers named in the law INST in Harris |
burg, this week, to decide upon the pattern
and maximum cost of these things.
The guard rail is to be six feet frem the |
ballot box aud none but the election Off |
cers and persons engaged in voting are to |
be admitted inside it, and not more than /
one time, but the law provides for watchers,
one for each party. who must have certi- !
fcato from the County Commissioners fol
general elections, or from the borough or
township auditors for local elections.
As each voter onters the railing he is |
handed an Official ballot properly folded. !
This he takes to his booth, unfolds marks, 4
retolds and hands to the election officer; 1
but he is not allowed to occupy booth |
more than three minutes if others are
waiting; and if he makes mistake and |
spoils his ballot he must return it before he |
can secure another, and after he leaves the !
booth he is not allowed to re-enter it. If |
he does not know how to prepare his ballot
be can appeal to the Judge of Election, and |
through him secure the assistance of q |
qualified voter. The election officer is |
to take the ballot, number it on one cor.
ner, paste that corner down so that the |
number cannot be seen and then deposit |
the ballot in the box.
After the polls close the election officers
only are allowed in the room; and the |
numbered list of voters, unused ballots, etc. |
are all to be sealed up, before the counting
begins This is to be done at once and
completed; full returns made according to
laws now in force, results announced,
boxes sealed, etc.
Ii voter marks too many names his
vote will not be counted for that Office.
The law provides for a new election in
case defective ballots are provided makes
the voter liable to fine of 800 and three
months imprisonment for showing his bal
lot, attempting to vote other than an Off
cial ballot. interfering with any voter in
| side the rail, inducing anyone to show his
ballot, defacing posted list of candidates
cards Of instruction or specimen ballots, or
interfs ring with voting; also making liable
for $1,000 fine and one years Imprisonment
| anyone who shall falsely mako OF wilfally
deface or destroy any certificate of nomi-
nation or nomination paper, or file 4 false
letter of withdrawal; and same for any pub
lie officer who wiIfully neglects his duty
under this law; also $1,000 and FIVE years
fnr tur hp ba