Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-04-23
THE ELECTION LAWS.
Some Radical Changes
Are Proposed.
BILLS NOW IN THE HOUSE.
They Will Be Discussed Next Thursday
in a Special Order.

The bills embodying revision and con-
solidation of the election and ballot laws
OF the State, reported yesterday in the
House of Representatives, contain many
changes from the present form Of the laws,
and especially from the Australian ballot
laws. There are two bills, one for NUM-
cipal and town elections, and the other
for State and Congressional.
The State and Congressional election
bill makes clear what the present law
does not, that certain percentage of the
voters of the State may nominate Presi-
Dental electors. At present the law
simply says that certain percentage of
voters may nominate general officers.
The State and Congressional bill provides
also that In case of no election on a first
trial the candidates not receiving 20 per
cent. of the votes cast shall not have their
names printed on the ballots for the
second election.
But in such cases voters are allowed to
write In the names OF candidates they wish
to vote for, and the names written in may
be the same ones voted for at the first
election. The committee found this was
as far as they could go in this direction
under the Constitution.
The State and Congressional law also
provides that no other marks besides q
name written In, the cross of designation
and printers mechanical marks shall be
on a ballot voted. And in case other
marks are found on the ballot the whole
paper shall be declared defective. No dis
cretion in such a case is left to the war
dens or country boards.
The law in regard to what constitutes
a proper cross and its place on the ballot
is not altered. No candidate for an
Office except those now provided by law,
wardens, clerks and members Of the
Boards Of Aldermen and Town Councils,
are allowed to act as parties to count the
votes and no candidate for general or
Legislative Office Is to act rs moderator or
warden.
In reference to the assistance OF voters
in marking their ballots the bill provides
that the person desiring assistance shall
first take oath OF his inability to mark the
ballot himself. The supervisors are not to
ihtSItSf VI w NOiuu1cCH w haIk phiiot.
When requested to do 30, and the voter Is
put under oath, the supervisors may give
assistance, and IL he does 80 under any
other condition, he is subjected to a
penalty. This is all new, but the present
law favors its spirit.
In case Of q vacancy on a ticket from
death or resignation the name of another
candidate must be submitted within forty
eight hours. At the present time names
may be submitted at the last minute, and
the printers are sometimes put to great
haste in providing the ballots.
The number of supervisors is changed.
There are to be two supervisors in towns,
wards, and districts of not more than 500
voters; four in towns, wards or districts
of 500 and not more than 1000 voters;
and Elk for districts where there are more
than 1000. There are only four now in
State elections.
1t is also provided that no party hall
use the whole or any part OF the name Of
another party for its title, as "Independ-
ent Democrat" 1t is believed that in such
cases Of the duplication OF word the
voter is apt to be confused. The form Of
ballots in relation to questions requiring
vote of "Yes" or "No" is improved.
The bills will be printed shortly and
next Thursday will be discussed i'm the
House as special order.