The record-union., 1893-03-09
AMENDING THE BALLOT LAW.

and goes to the Senate to meet whatever
is to be its fate.
1t amends Section 1l42 so that election
officers shall be selected from all instead
OF two of the political parties represented
on the ballots of the preceding year that
cast per cent. of the vote, one to each
party. fthere are not enough parties to
thus fill the board, the head of the list is
to be returned to and the process re-
peated.
The entire provision relative to mem
bers of the board relieving each other, the
exclusion of those who have held or do
hold office, from the board, the ability to
read and write in English, and the pun
lshment by fine or Imprisonment for re-
tusal to act on Election Boards, is
omitted.
There is no objection to the amend
ment, except to that part which omits the
educational qualifications of election Off
GERS, and the penalty for refusal to serve.
1t ought to affirmatively appear that an
election officer can read and write in
English, and the State has the right to
and ought to compel men to serve, Just as
is done for jury duty and as witnesses.
Without the penalty clause men may be
appointed some of whom will not serve,
and then those who do attend proceed to
appoint others. Thus boards may be
made up, and are made often, of
vicious material and to suit the purposes
OF the corrupt element In this county
We know of men being put on as Inspect
Ors and Judges who could not read in any
language.
Section 11S8 is proposed to be amended,
to change the percentage to secure petit
ton nomination from five to three, and it
adds penalty. as for felony, for false
ai1idavits certifying to the genuineness of
the petition signatures, and for signing
anothers name to a petition. To this
there is small objection, though the per-
centage is made too low, and the amend
ment will probably go through.
Section 1874 is amended SO as to require
County Clerks to certify to the political
committees the names of all nominees
certified to him by the Secretary of State
1t strikes out the entire provision relative
to advertising the ballots, and substitutes
personal delivery of sample ballot to
every registered voter through the Post
Office. This mailing is to commence at
least ten days before the election, and be
completed three days prior to the cleo
ton. This is an economic provision. 1t
hits newspapers hard, but their interests
must always be secondary to those of the
people and the free ballot.
Section 1897 is amended so as to aban
don the title groups or headings, in con-
formity with the decision of the Supreme
Court.
Section 1903 is amended so as to require
polling or compartments to be
sufficient in number for one to represent
each forty voters in the precinct. The
present law fixes the number at fifty.
There is no objection to this change,
Section 1905 is amended so as to make
the ballots conform to the omission of
headings giving the title of parties for
straight-ticket voting. This is necessary
under the ruling of the courts.
Section 1908 amends the law in a most
important particular. 1t requires that
the illiterate voter who asks for aid in the
marking OF his ballot must select two.
instead of one, of the election officers.
and they must be of different political
parties. Likewise the form of an ex-
plicit oath is set out, to which the voter
must subscribe his name, in which he is
required to set forth the physical dis
ability that affects him. The officers
chosen by him to assist him must also
subscribe to an oath of good faith in the
matter. This is all wise. 1t would be
better still if the entire provision relative
to educational disability were stricken
out, and physical disability alone left as a
ground for asking for assistance in the
voting booth.
Section 1851 is amended by omitting the
provisions relating to straight ballots.
and all that follows the first reference
thereto in that section. There is substi-
tuted this method: That the ballots shall
be taken from the box, one by one, and
opened. One of the board must read Off
each name on the ballot opposite to which
the stamp appears, and the Office under
which the name is printed or written.
The ballots are TO be threaded as fast as
read off and tailed, and the illegal bal
lots are to be indorsed and signed by a
majority of the board and then strung
upon string.
Section 1854 substitutes eighteen hours
for three hours within which the election
boards in San Francisco must deliver the
returns to the County Clerk after the ad-
iournment of the board.
Section 1865 is amended by adding to
the requirement that the Clerk shall keep
the Election Board packages unopened
for twelve months, the provision that a
Judge of Superior Court, after the time
limited for contesting an election, may