The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-11-19
WRONG VOTING.
Errors Found in Ballots at the
Election.
SOME Tl0NS.
What Election officers Might Do TO
Assist.
BUT THEY ARE TAPE BOUND.
Some Realistic Statements of the Various
Ills which Beset a Man when He Goes
Into a Box To DO Such an Heroic Act
As Mark His Ballot-should He Have
Advice, and How Much?

A well-known citizen, who served as an
election clerk at the presidential election
said TO a NEWS reporter the other day
.sThe fact has been amply demonstrated
by experience with the safe, but not sure,
reform ballot system in Rhode Island
that 1t causes great waste OF political
power Even with the much improved
and labor saving ballot used at the last
election there seems not to have been any
diminution in this waste. 1t has called
forth much needed comment from the
NEWS. and no class OF citiZens can be
more provoked than the election officers
themselves, who are powerless To help
the matter, so hound up with red tape are
lacy by the regulations which control
their action on election day.
1t is claimed that this system allows
the voter perfect independence in cast
ing his ballot. SO it does. and 10 also
gives him the opportunity to do all sorts
OF abortive acts that count against the
cause that he could forward. Men OF
education and intelligence go at the new
ballot as something mysterious, as
though it was printed in some language
they did not comprehend. Of course "A
man who votes the secreS ballot without
assistance is expected To know how to
read the English language. The trouble
is that the ballot is expected To speak OF
iCself, when, if the voter would reJain his
senses, and coolly read it, he would be Gu
abled to mark his ballot with absolute
correctness.
"lf those who demand the retention of
the Australian ballot system would have
IL yield the fruits they wish. the voter
must have more assistance; that is, IL the
lack of the ability TO properly mark the
ballot is not TO be made a disqualification
IN traQ IN and the SIlnnDgItlOu that
IL is not best for voter TO waste his fran
chise.- lie should be assisted TO vote his
convictions
"Any teacher will tell you that little
oral instruction at the proper moment is
worth pages of printed directions.
For those who cannot read and write,
and are willing to own il, the supervisors
have ample power to act by direction of
the moderator or warden, but there are
Others to he provided for. The careless
man needs watching and u little healthy
assistance would do him good. Then
there is the busy man who has only time
to press the button and leave cnance TO do
the rest. He will not take time ID reao his
ballot, so that he can mark IL intelligent
ly, but fires away at radon. Then comes
the nervous man, who loses his head and
gives up in dispair before he gets half
through the ticket Here is man who
can read, write aud has intelligence
enough to do the work properly, but he
has no faith in his own Judgment and
would feel all right If some one at his
elbow would confirm his Judgment by
saying, Now you are all %. Il.
Though tue law reads III plain Ian
guage that the ballot snall be marked on
the rignt-hand side. and the matter has
been passed upon by the Supreme Court
of the State, which decides that ballot
is worthless marked on the left-hand
side yet there are still many left-nauded
voters. There is the don't care voter,
who really intends to vote only the presl-
Dental ticket, SO he makes "a cross in the
proper inclosure, and to cllnch IL also
crosses each electors name, expending
all his ardor on this part of his ballot To
count for naught ia the end.
What, If any, is the remedy for all
this disorder aud confusioui 1t would
not be best TO add to the expense Of our
elections. IL is large enough already. The
powers OF the election Offices might be
enlarged, SO that they could be empowred
TO caution aud give general Information
TO voters who do not need direct assist
ance in making the ballot
"Or a sort OF philanthrophic, patriotic
board of advisement might be formed, To
sevre gratuitously, and be appointed in
the same manner that supervisors are
selected. This board, To be composed of
citizens OF good judgment, riDe expert
ence and trusty character. To be located
outside the faii ana iti no way to inter
fere or conflict with the duties of the re-
gular election officers, and their duties TO
be wholly advisory and educational.
thrust this subject will receive atten-
tion and discussion. Let election officers
who would rather count perfect ballots
than imperfect ones, propose their rene
dies for this great waste of political
force"