The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-11

blank space at the right OF the name OF
each candidate for whom he desires to
vote, on whatever ticket he may be; or,
(b) Make a cross mark in the circular
space or square below he name OF a
party, some of whose candidates he
wishes to vote for, and then make a cross
mark after the name OF any candidate
OF any party for whom he wishes to vote;
in which case the GROSS mark in the cir
cular space or square below the name ofa
party will cast the electors vote for every
candidate on the ticket OF such party,
except for offices for which candidates
are marked IN other party tickets, and
the cross marks after the names of such
candidates will cast the electors vote
for them; or,
(c) If there is a cross in the circular
space or square at the head Of a column
and one or more cross marks made after
the names Of any candidates on the
same ticket, such mark after the names
of candidates on the ticket SO marked
shall be treated as surplusage, and the
ballot shall be counted as a vote for all
the candidates on the ticket, except
where marks are made after the names
OF candidates on other tickets, in which
case they shall be counted for-such
other candidates as hereinbefore men
toned.
This ballot 10y being counted for all
candidates on straight tickets would
greatly swell the vote, I believe, and is
not subject to the criticism that it takes
too much work" for "a man to vote n
of our state ballots from beginning to
end in a presidential year. Voters
would not get tired in studying out
party nominees. Again, there are a
great many men who have no personal
acquaintance whatsoever with candi-
dates for political offices. They vote
simply in accordance with what they
believe to be those principles of gov
eminent best calculated to subserve
their individual opinions. The ballot
here proposed enables such voters to
quickly express their preferences and
vote the whole ticket without labor.
Such a form would also save d great
many complications which arise under
u present law In relation to voting for
members of the legislature. 1t is too
hard for a great many voters, unaccus-
toned to the use of their pencils, to pick
out Just the right number of men for
the Legislature out of the whole groups
presented, and at the same tune to Sc
lect those representing a particular
party. Nor can it be denied that candi-
dates whose surname5 commence with
letters like rs" and "W," or other final
letters of the alphabet, labor under a
serious disadvantage with our present
system. All these difficulties are easily
overcome by the proposed changes. The
whole ballot is the easiest n to under
stand.
The only objection entitled to weight
against the party column system may be
that it encourages party affiliations,
which the Australian system opposes;
yet this objection is overcome by max
ing it SO easy for a mar to vote a
scratched ticket that he will do 80 if he
has the slightest inclination, and yet es-
cape many present chances of error.
The form suggested will also remove all
probable division of the electoral vote of
the state. an end highly desirable, and
for this reason it is superior to many
ballots, which require a mark for each
electoral candidate.
1t is a significant fact that within the
past two years most of the states which
have adopted or improved their electoral
laws prefer the party columns, which
would seem to permit the inference that
such an arrangement as | propose is an
improvement.
In Ohio the parties adopt devices to
! assist voters; for instance the republi-
cans put an eagle at the head Of their
column, the ~populists a pillow, and so On,
but l think an ~electioneering ballot is
not to be encouraged, and that the
name republican, or democrat" or
peoples party" is sufficient.
1t is impossible for lack of space to go
into the details of the provisions in re-
lation to the proposed ballot, but | have
tried to give enough to explain it intel
ligently and to suggest it for general
consideration. The amendments, while
radical, are not complex, and can be
so clearly drawn as to cover every posi-
BILE ambiguity.
In my next paper l shall write briefly
of a few other amendments to the Aus
tralian law, particularly in relation tc
Directing to nominees before the ballot
is prepared, and concerning the right Of
assist him, and of the booths necessary
to ecure privacy.
WILLIAM II. Hunt.