Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-02-10
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT.
EXPLANATION or SYSTEM BY SEC.
-.RETARY Or STATE FeS5EhoEN.

With sus-estlnns and Recon- me ndations
TO o0cisis and yor.rs-Duties of Each
Carefully EHpIained-sAmpIs Ballots
and Illustrations.
At the coming september election the
Australian or secret ballot system, enacted
a law by the last legislature, will De carried
into effect
Secretary OF State Nicholas Fessanden
haas carefully prepared a pamphlet, descrip-
| tive and explanatory of the requirements
| and workings Of the system, for the instruc-
city, town and plantation clerks, and it II
Of equal value TO voters.
1t Is accompanied by illustrations OF the
polling places, showing the proper arrange
| msnt OF the booth, ti.llot boxes, guard
| rails places for Clerks and other officials,
| and sample forms Of ballots to be used aud
| the method oi marking them when voting
1t was prepared by Secretary OF State
Fessenden, after a careful examination of
the system now in use ia Massachusetts,,
with the hope that the suggestions, recon-
men6ations and illustrations might prove
helpful in preparing 70, snd carrying out
The new law at the approaching election
and cannot tall to prove Il valuable aid to
every man, whether official or voter, in the
easy and correct performance Of his duties
at the polls.
We present below the most important
features of the article, with the blank forms
and Illustrations
This law applies to the cities, towns and
plantations at the annual state elections and
at national elections. 1t applies also to all
municipal elections in cities after Sept. /,
les!; but docs moi dpDty to municipal cleo
tlons IN towns and plantations at their an
nual town meetings.
Duties of Convention Oaieers
The law assigns to the officers of nominaL
ing conventions certain very important
duties, upon the discharge of which is made
10 depend the printing of candidates names
upon the general ballot All such officers,
when chosen in convention, must see 10 II
that the proper CsTtjhcnteS Of nomination
and 0ccept0nces Of c1sdtdates are season
ably filed with the secretary of state
These certificates must be sworn to by the
chairman or secretary Of the convention,
and must be filed twenty days, exclusive
OF Sundays, before the day of election, or
by Ane. 10, 1892.
To provide against accidents, DELAYS or
negbgences of senders, and to iasare neces-
ssiry time for printing the ballot, it would
materially aid IN putting the law into sue
cesstul operation if all nominating conven-
tions should he called and held sufficiently
early to admit Of filing these certificates
thirty or more days before the day of cleo
ton.
Certificates cannot he rereitsd IN am,
case later than dug. 70, 1892
1t must be remembered that nominating
conoenttons can be held only by parties,
winch at the next preceding election Sep
tember, 1890 cast p'j cont, of the entire
vote cast at snch election, in the district OF
county, for which such conversion is to be
held.
Nomination Papers.
In certain cases candidates NAV he dulv
nominated by papers signed by individual
voters, these nomination papers, with the
written acceptance OF the candidate, 10 be
filed the same as required in case of the con-
vention certificate before referred to.
Vacancies.
Vacancies in nominations are to be filed
as provided in section s. 10 which the atten-
ton of all convention officers is especially
invited.
As relates to nominations made in conven-
tions, it may be a wise measure for every
nominating convention to elect a COMMITTEES,
whose duty it shall be to till any and all va
cancies occurring after such convention
finally adjourns and before the day of cleo
ton and whose further duty it shall be to
file with the secretary of state the certificate
called for hY this section