Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-08
NEW WAY TO VOTE
A New York Inventor Con-
ceives a New Machine
FOR CASTING THE BALLOTS
II is Absolutely Accurate. Prevents Re-
peating and Gives Out the Correct
Returns in Thee Minutes.

kefufns IN THEE Minutes.
LocKroRr. n. Y, April The Gen.
ter of attraction just at present is what
is known as the Myers ballot or voting
machine. 1t is the invention OF .
Rochester man, whose lifelong bus
lness has been the devising Of locks
and other improved accoutrements for
burglar-proof bank safes. THIS new
departure, which Mr.. Myers stated was
the result OF only two or three weeks
actual study. promises TO revoiuuonize
the now more or less cumberson meth
DDS OF voting. For this reason If for
no other, the. machine Is peculiarly
valuable, but this is the least OF It's
merits, which were succinctly stated by
Mr.. Myers.
On Tuesday next the merits of the
machine will be put to practical test
by the voters of the township of Lock
port and there is no reason 10 doubt
that It's results will prove otherwise
than satisfactory. Those who have
not seen the machine, will picture be-
fore them plain ''booth" or enclosure
seven feet high and i've feet IN with
and depth. 1t is simply q light but
strong angle non frame, covered with
heavy sheet iron. The structure is IN
two sections, eacn two ana one-half
feet wide, easily and tirmly connected
after transportation, and alter passage
through the narrowest election room
door. The "booth" is divided by q
solid steel partition, one-fourth inch
mt mn tn ff,1a mt
or rooms.
Dimensions of the Machine.
The voters compartment Is 4x5 feet,
and the counter compartment" III
which the labeled mechanical counters.
with their unerring metallic dials, are
darkly concealed until the polls close,
is lx5 feet and has two locked and
sealed heavy sheet iron sliding doors.
which form one OF the outer sides OF
the booth. Looking from the in-
spectOrs' table, the voters compart-
ment shows two outside sheet iron
doors side by side, one for entrance
with knob outside only, and the other
for exit with inside knob only-both
having ordinary spring-lock knobs.
Alter qualifying as usual the voter ap-
proaches the booth and is admitted by
the door officer, who closes the door,
and Is under penalty to keep it closed
until the voter comes out of the outer
exit-door, unless he tarries within be-
yond the lawful limit of one minute,
IN which event tue board is informed
and they eject him. On entering the
booth or voters department, the voter
is alone in an absolutely obscure, con-
cealed room. having white walls and
ceiling, aud brilliantly lighted by
lamp.
How the Vote Is Cast.
He finds against the one-quarter inch
steel perforated partition six vertical
rows or columns, six inches apart of
"ballot pushes" having nickei-plated
knobs projecting out three inches from
the partition. To the left OF each
column of knobs are securely and inn
moyably fastened tho card board signs,
or permanent ballots of each particular
party-no loose ballots being used or
these permanent ballots
contain large print the name Of the
candidate and the name OF the Office
for which he is intended to he chosen,
and nothing else except large index
hand pointing TO the proper knob.
Cannot Make a Mistake.
The ballots for the same party nearly
adjoin each other, and beginning at the
top with presidential electors" first.
governor next. and SO on, are arranged
downward in the same order of success
sion as usual heretofore. The words
STATE" county," ETC., are omitted,
not necessarily, but preferable. The
same order is followed for each party
hn ..H afn Gov
the same Office are on the same hori-
easy. To facilitate selections of
party ticket or column, each particular
column has at its head the party name,
/. e.. democratic ticket" "-epubii-
can ticket" or "labor ticket" and SO
heading and ballot card sign for each
by lot by state committee
for each party-to SO remain for years
during the existence of the party. The
voter pushes the knob inward two
inches, through the steel partition,
when instantly an unseen retaining
latch locks IT IN and prevents repeating,
and At the same time locks out all
other push knobs" on the same cross
line, which prevents voting for any
other candidate for that particular
Office. The same result follows after
choosing aud voting for one man on
either cross line, no matter which
except the right or last column.
which Is independent of the 'party"
and reserved for constitutional
and non-partisan aues-
,ions. on which tae ballot signs are ar
ranged in pairs vertically. In this
column, voting "for" bars against"
and voting AGAINST" bars"for."
No Repeating Possible.
Thus a voter can vote quickly and
safely on amendments, and rapidly
vote all the knobs in any one party col
umn for ''straight' ticket, or choose
Dne or more knobs in other columns.
and the talanco on lis Iarty column
for a mixed" or "sTlt" ticket-or
onIy push one or more knobs as
part" ticket. Either is done in ten to-
to fifteen seconds, because selection il
made essy hv the party colored posters
9r fac-simile trsllot dlagrsais which the
board has posted outside shd inside OF
nc polling place. ON tac reverse side
( the steel perforated partition IA the
sealed compartment opposite each can
/ dates osilot or name - mechanical
.oonteT. iaheied with ire same name,
- identfy tk after the polls close.
Zach counter q something he those |
used or printing presses. The pstmsu |
arm of tie cunater a ia the path ~ The |
: aob push, which nasses through and |
eyoad the psrttson piste "a right |
lne. and thus aetsIstes the counter pit /
usa. adding one vete and 20 murr
aeh tine tt4e hailot / aug, = voted No
RRab can 10 voted . ssfena tniss ss
hey Afs oaiy fetuFaed ready Tor The
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