The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-01-16
Applies TO Township Elections.

The Dover linden of to day viii contain
a letter from state senator Werts, written
in reply to an inquiry in regard to the
Ballot Reform laws application to munic-
ipal and township elections. The Senator
says:
| The Ballot Reform law of last winter treats
of three kinds OF elections, viz:
First-The annual elections held through
out the State on the irst Tuesday after the
first Monday in November, whereat state and
county officers are chosen.
Second-Charte elections or elections for
Chartered cities, towns and boroughs whereat
blsyors, Common C0uneillnen, Boards of
Aldermen, borough officers, etc, are chosen.
Ihlrd-IheS annual township elections or
town meetings" wnefeat township ~oflcefss,
township Clerks. committees, assessors, col
lecior5, ~freeholdtrs, justices of tine Peace,
commissioners OF appeal, surveyors of high
ways, overseer OF poor, constables, pound
keepers, etc are Chosen.
10 the first kind Of elections all the provI-
| sions of the Ballot Reform law apply, except
ing sections 20, 81, ., % and "a.
10 the second Kind OF elections most, If not
ali, the provisions of the Ballot Reform law
apply, except so far as modified by sections
%, q, y. - and n.
10 the Flown Meetings'-The third kind Of
elections the first 10 sections OF the law apply
so tar AS The same are applicable (see section
i9) but none OF the sections of the law, from
section 20 10 section ~, both Incl ..sive, relate
TO or apply TO the town meeting elections
(see section 50l.
The result Is that elections of the first and
secon L kinds are TO be held and conducted in
I : uDSb1 vim llllllA 4 ali IL Z 4
menfs OF the Ballot Reform law. Elections of
the third kind-the iown meetings-are 10 be
held and conducted by the local boards OF
election appointed by tie county boards OF
registry, and election ana the poll clerks APP
| pointed by the local boards.
Ia all other respects and particulars the
town meetings are to be held and conducted
without the attendants OF official ballots, en-
veiopes and booths) exactly as though The
Ballot Reform law had never been pissed.
(See sections 1850 and 81
The reason iol'th above result is that the
committee preparing the bill round it imprac-
ticabie il not impossible to apply the elabo-
rate and expensive deta1ls OF the law relative
TO the nomination ana certllcation OF eandi-
dates and the furnishing of official ballots
and envelopes to an election involving the
choice OF such unimpoffant officers as con-
stables, p~onndkeepers, etc.
1t WAS urged that corrupt practices had not
become so prevalent at these town meetings
as 10 call for special remedy, and that if coca
sion for reform did exist it would be wiser to
transfer the choice OF the more important
Offices from the spring TO the fall election,
thus securing all the results OF Ballot Reform
and avoiding II double expense. Accordingly
section 80 was inserted in the act, leaving the
town meeting to further legislation if
necessary.
IL might, if thought desirable. be provided
that at the town meetings IT, same booths or
| comp trllneuts shall be used DIS at The fall
elections. That the clerks of the respective
townships shall provide and tGrlish for each
township n sufficient number of official en-
yelopes endorsed for the township $50 they
could be printed In large Quantitie9), to be
furnished the voters as in the Ballot Reform
law provided, the tickets moi to be ofieiul or
provided ut public Xpsnse. but furnished by
interested parties as heretofore. The candi-
dates or any person 10 have The privilege of
supplying tickets to the election boari TO be
furnished the voter rs he enters the polling
room. The mode and manner of voting the
ballot to be the same provided in the new
law. This plan would involve very little
public X pense and would insure many OF the
| good results of ballot reform.