Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-01-24
Senator Falconer Introduces an I'm
portant Measure in the Upper
House.
1t Seeks to Work Various Improve
ments in the Present Election
Law.
Details of the Bill and the Cha nge
Proposed Ticket Voting
Straight.

county, introduced bill that is substi-
tute for the Cooper election law Section
provides that nomination papers for city
officers shall be filed with city clerks in
stead of with county clerks There seems
to be no reason whatever why a county
clerk should have any duty to perform that
pertains wholly to a city election.
Section 2 provides that any party that
polled two per centum of the vote in the
state at the previous election may make
nominations in any miner political diyis-
ion. The present law is somewhat ncer-
tain on that point.
Section authorizes the bar association
of the state or a bar committee to nominate
candidate for jnstice of the supreme
court and candidates for circuit judges I'M
der certain limitations, and to have the
names of the candida so nominated
placed on the official ballot This is meant
to keep politics, in large measure, opt Of
judicial elections and save the calling
out of candidates.
Section authorizes other than poitica
/ parties to nominate candidates for munic-
ipal offices. The Cooper law recognizes
nothing but political conventions. In
many of the cities political conventions
are rarely held, the issues being wholly Of
local and non-partsan character.
Section provides against the use of the
name af any organized political party b Y
any independent or "called candidate.
At the last election many iLdependent
candidates claimed the right to use party
designation, as democrat" or "republi.
can, when such political organizations
had regularly nominated candidates in the
field.
Section 6 provides for settling disputes
in case of party divisions
Section 7 authorizes committees to make
nominations to ill vacancies occurring by
death, removal or resignation before tick
cts are printed Under the present law
there is no method provided for filling a
vacancy that might occur a short time be-
fore the election.
Section authorizes committees to make
nominations when vacancies occur after
the tickets have been printed and for sup
plying election officers with pastors con
tainiug the names Of the candidates nom
mated, who must place them on the bal
lot.
Section 9 removes the limitation as t.
the length of the ballot, and authorizes Oh,
printing of ballots ON paper six inches il
width in certain cases Under the present
law it would bt almost impossible to prin
the names of the candidates on ballot O
the size prescribed by law, in presidential
years. and when there is only single can
didate to be elected it seems to be unneces
sary that the ballot should be twelve inche
wide.
Section 10 provides that twenty pc
cent. more ballots shall be printed for eacl
polling place than the highest nun Der Of
votes cast in such precinct at the proceed
ing presidential election, but gives clerk
some discretionary power to print a larger
number if they deem it necessary and re
quires them to do so on the certificate O.
choir man if any political party that, il
his judgment larger number will be re
qGired at any stated poll Thepresent Law
requires FIVE times as many ballots a,
were poled at the previous presidential
election. Unofficial sample ballots are t
be printed on colored paper, and are to b,
Furnished to political committees without
expense to them.
Section / ! dispenses with the 'informa
mation" cards and the posting Of print
ed list Of candidates The substance 0
the information cards is incorporated in
the election notice that is to be printed
Section II directs that ballots for school
officers in cities having provisions in their
charters for electing school officers by the
people should be upon seperate ballot
! This is for the purpose Of preserving The
right Of women to vote for school off
GERS.
Section Is authorizes political com
mittees to appoint their representatives q
the polling places and directs permits tc
be issued to such representatives to be il
the room, challenge persons offering to
vote, to watch the count etc
Section Il provides for the election o.
the inspectors Of election, and the ap
pointnent Of ballot clerks. In towns t'gc
inspectors are to be elected, only one name
to be on ballot, however, and the twt
I persons receiving the highest number o.
votes 70 be two Of the inspectors and the
chairman Of the town board 20 be the
third Tins is to secure to both Of the
principal parties representatives on the
board Of election
Section Is authorizes political commit
tees in cities to nominate one person fo