The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-09-11
THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
Explanation Of the Election Ordinance

TIC COhstll ullOndl convention q
supplementary to the new Cor
stitution, on November / 1890. an
and went into operation on the Is
day OF January, 1891. 1t is no,
the paramount law of the Stat.
expressly annulling all prior EN-
actmenis relating to elections
The Legislature is expressly in
hiblted from repeating this ordi
nance until after the first day O
January, 1896.
The important Elertion Ordi
nance of which so many voter.
are, as yet, uniformed, is {
lengthy enactment, consisting O.
nineteen sections. We shall only
examine some of its provisions.
There is to be but one ticket, on
which the names of all candidates
of every party. or no party, are to
be printed. The ticket, are not
to be headed by any party name,
but shall be known as ''Official
Ballots" This ticket is to BE-
printed at the public expense. and
furnished to each county, the lat.
Ter paying for the same ont of
their respective treasures.
There are three ways by which
a candidate for any office is emit
tied to have his name printed on
this Official Ballot" He must
have been put in nomination not
less than fifteen days before the
the election, by a convention of
any political party or by a prima-
ry election {; and secondly, there
shall be printed on said ticket the
name of any man who has been
requested by fifteen qualified vot-
ers to become a candidate for any
beat Office, and for any county
office he must be recommended or
requested hy fifty qualified voters
of the county. This petition or
request must be presented to .
the commissioner authorized to
have the ballots printed fifteen
days before the election.
There is to be but one ticket.
No candidate can have any tickets
printed, and no man can see the
till the moment of voting.
Each voter must make out his own
by himself, without any aid
or Interference.
The sheriff IS required to furnish
private cOmpsr ment immediate
= adjoining the ballot box, but
separately from it, for each hun
lred voters. Each voter, on re-
quest. is handed a ticket by the a..
election officer. He takes ,
enters the compartment by ,
where he finds a table or :.
esk supplied with pen and ink. :
lie does not scratch the ballot, but =
imply makes a cross mark (Ihus i
} on the right hand margin di. y
sctly opposite the name of the a
er.ors he desires to vote for. y
those names having this X :
lax at the end of these names u
re to be counted. The cross must d
e with ink. b
The voter shall then fold his a
allot in such a way as not TO dis 81
ose the marks thereon, but so c.
lat the words Official Ballot"
ly the designation of The ii
ectlon pre- cInct for which the +
,llot is prepared and the date of b.
Ie election shall be visible to the b.
OF the election. lie shall 10
Ell cast his ballot and shall quit o,
e enclosed compartment without
ldue DELAY. No voter is allowed ~
occupy The voting shelf, table q
compartment already occupied ~
another voter. Ii no others are g,
a voter may be allowed 90
n minutes to make out his tick. -
but no longer than five minutes ,o
Others n waiting. Only blind 90
rsons and others physically dis ~,
led r allowed assistance in ~
liking out their ticket. :"
Any election officer who violates -
Y OF The provisions of The ordi- u.
nee is subject 10 fine of not ~
$ than twenty-five dollars. W
From this brief exposition of 10
election ordinance it will be Ne
IN that it is a complete innova NC
n on the way OF choosing their pi'
TO which our people have 10
been accustomed. 1t has I'D
good features and some not so
good. 1t enables the voter to b''
q, il he can act at all, on his own Zoe
dependent judgment. He can to
e as he may believe for the hest PEI
n on the ticket without The pa
tation Of heretofore bosses and on
.hout any let or hindrance from bro
man or sci of men. 1t tends AM
prevent intimidation, coercion ch;
owe persuasion. On the other VIII
Id il prevents some good men fur
m voting at all. There are o'c
ne property owners, tax payers as
old soldiers. good and patriotic will
zens, who cannot read. and tur
refore cannot vote. How can
Y select the officer they want
ess they can read his name on
Official Ballot p So then this oe'
amounts TO an educa- OF
qualification, although the for
lvention had previously voted NJ,
IN the qualification when it was
ght 10 be incorporated in the Gle
V of .he Gnnsflfnfinn- But sor