The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-02-08
ch.na,ne ths sanot law

Senator Baker, Of Delar are Counfy. has
introduced bill nakiag many and inPor-
tant ameudnsnts 70 The ballot law. Uaser
these changes any party polling one Fer
cent Of the largest vote clst, for any State
officer, is recognized as political party, and
nay certify its nominations. TIE present
law requires three per cent Parties polling
less than one per cent must present noni-
nation papers. For stale Offices, congress
and legislature not nIore than so signatures
sre required. xhile for ell other cdicers
there m1st be at least ten signerz.
Cersidcates Of nomination and noziBa-
ton papers for the three highest classes Of
officers must be fled thirty-five aud twenty
eight days respectively before election in
stead Of fifly-six and forty nine. county and
municipal twenty-eight and twenty-one in
stead of forty-two and thiriy-fiye. For bor-
oughs and townships the limit Is unehz5g-
ed The tine for fling objections in the
three classes Is extended fr1m thirty to thir-
ty-nine twenty to twenty four and three to
i've. respectively The Secretary Of the
Commonwealth must certify nominations 70
the sherids and commissioners twelve days
before election. instead of ten, as now Ie-
quired.
The method Of marking ballots is chang
ed 10 require cross marx opposite the name
Of each candidate voted Tor except presidsn-
tiAl electors, where one mark opposite the
party name votes for all. The number Of
official ballots furnished IS unchanged. bat
only a sufficient number ofspecimen ballots
are required. and the county commissioners
may require tie election judges 10 come to
their Office on the day before election and re-
ceive and receipt for all ballots for their dis
iricts.
0ae voting compartment is 70 be furnish
ed for every seventy-fve voters. instead of
every fry. and scsrtain door must be plac-
ed across the upper part 10 screen the voter
from observation while making bis ballot.
The name and residsnce Of a person vo1ch-
ing for an unregistered voter must be en-
dorsed on the ballots check list, opposite the
voters name Reasonable compensation for
party watchers shall be included in the
proper c-cl-ttu - fIA-CS " NAl1A41lc1 anu
political committees
The most important change is that reia-
tive to the disability OF voters" II reads as
follows: Ifany voter, before receiving his
bsllot, declares TO the judge of election that
be cSnnot read it, OF that for any physical
cause be IS unable to mark il, the judge shall |
require him (except ia cases of manifest
physical disability 10 make oath on affiF-
nation to the fact, stating it specifically. |
aud shall then permit him to select one |
qualified elector Of the district as a helper, !
Who shall be permitted to enter = voting |
compartment With him. The said helper |
shall first declare, on oath or affirmation, /
that he viii not attempt to influence the
vote Of said voter, bus will only give him /
the help be may desire, and that be will not /
disclose the contents Of the ballot 70 anyone /
except when required 50 70 DO in any legal 1
proceeding The inspector IN charge Of the 1
voting check list shall in any such case note |
therein, opposite the name Of the voter help /
ed, the words helped BY lr2ning the helper |
on account OF Stating the eaussl.r
4 public count Is also specifically pTovid
ed for