The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-13
The Secretary Of State Suggests
Modification in Law.
BOOSTERS AND THINGS TO GRACE
THE HEADS OF THE TICKETS.
The Changes Suggested by Secretary Fes-
senden-A Pictorial Ballot for the
Illiterate-No Essential Feature of the
Law Altered.
Especial to the Press.l

Especial to the Press.]
AUGUSTA, January 12.-The Austral-
ian ballot law is again before the legisla-
ture. The amendments recommended
by Secretary of State Fessenden were
sent into the Senate today and ordered
printed by that body. AS predicted in
! this correspondence some days ago, one
of the principal changes in the law pro-
posed by Mr.. Fessenden is that providing
for the Indiana form of ballot, by which
each political party entitled to place on
| the official ballot, has in addition to the
name Of the party some distinguishing
device. This political emblem must be
described in the nomination papers, and
| must have been adopted in state conyen-
! ton or by the state committee Of the
party adopting it. The flag of the ma
| ton and the. seal of any state cannot be
| used as emblems.
1t is claimed for this system that un-
der it persons who cannot ad need not
be debarred from voting or be put to the
| necessity of asking asst tance, as man
| who cannot read can learn the device of
his party Persons wishing to vote a
| straight ticket would make cross in
| the large square containing the device of
| the party they wished to support. Per-
| sons wishing to cut ticket would mark
! the name of each candidate for whom
! thev wished to vote as now. Another
proposed amendment provids for the
| placing of square or circle after each
| name in place of the lank space on the
| present ballot.
| 1t is further provided that the Secreta-
| ~ of State shall adopt devices where
parties neglect to do SO, and shall also
| have power to change device it it so
| closely resembles that of another party
| as to cause confusion in the mind OF a
voter He shall also have power to set
| tie who is entitled to the original device
in case party divides into factions.
Others of Secretary Fessenden's pro-
| posed amendments are these:
Increasing from 20 to 80 the number of days
| previous to election before which nomination
papers must be filed with the Secretary OF State,
and from seven to ten days the time required
for fling nomnaton papers with ely oeas a
| to give necessary time in preparing ballots;
| In section IL, adding packages" in addition
to the books or blocks in which ballots may
| be fastened together
! Insection p, reducing from rs to so the
| number of ballots for every 90 votes and frac,
| ton thereof and making the section then read
cast In said voti,g place at the ',ert preceding
! election for like Offices Experience has shown
| that the smaller number is enough for the pur--
| pose and the amendment will lower the cost OF
/ elections. The present requirement. that town
| clerks shall return to the secretary OF state a
] days before election the number OF votes IN
their towns is to be stricken out, and the prOyl-
sion above quoted used in Its place. Ihis
| method is believed to be simpler and safer.
| In section 1S, to make the meaning clearer
| by designating presiding election of1leers TO
| whom ballots shall be sent; and ballot clerks as
| the ones to whom the opened packages OF bal
| lots shall be delivered. The phraseology is
also changed to read office or officers:
| In section 1S, inserting the word clerks. In
| cases where they are now referred to as cleo
| tion officers wording of this secuon mas caused
| much confusion.
| guard rail to the ballot booths from six to
| In Sc ton 23. to substitute ballot clerk for
ballot officer, The clerk evidently being the Off
In section 26, to contine to election clerks, the
| duty ofassisting voters requiring help.
| In connection with this last amend
ment. Mr.. f ssenden says: II do not
| think it is correct practice for select
men, assessors or wardens to aid in
marking votes. The law evidently
meant that each Of the two great parties
should be equally represented SO far as
affording markers of ballots for the ig-
| norant or physically dlsaDled Votef, eilaI
fair play should be had at all polling
places as between these rival political
parties If municipal officers in towns
and plantations and wardens in cities are
empowered by this section to act as
| markers then a manifest inequality and
consequent unfairness must result.
Tt will be seen, as Mr.. Fessenden points
out in his reasons for the changes, that
many of them are mere verbal correc-
tions. The synonymous use OF the
words election officers and ballot clerks
| has caused much trouble and the
changes are designed to do away with
any apparent obscurity of the law as re-
CARDS the duties of town officers who are
made election officers by the constitu-
taon and the ballot clerks appointed un-
I der the statutes.
APPROVE THE PURCHASE.