Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-02-10
Ballot Law Changes.


Although the Baker Ballot law worked
in the main very satisfactorily at the last
election, il was evident that many changes
were necessary before it would meet tne
approval of the people generally ano
Senator Baker has introduced bill aimed
at removing these defects. 1t makes
changes in nearly every section, the most
important being briefly enumerated as
follows:
ANY political organization polling 1 per
cent. of the largest vote cast for q state
Office at the preceding election g per cent.
being the present reqnisite) is recognized
as a political party, and may by conven-
ton or caucus certify nominations Tor
place on the official ballot. Parties polling
under per cent. must present nomination
papers. For State offices, Congress and
Legislature not more than 500 signers are
required while for all other offices there
must be at least 10 signers.
Certificates of nomination and nomina'
ton papers for the three higher classes oil
offices must be filed 35 and % days, re-
spectiyely, before election, instead OF 90
and 40; county and municipal, % and Il
instead of AZ aud 80. For boroughs and
townships the limit is unchanged. ObJec-
tious to nominations for these three classes
must be filed 80. "a and 5 days before cleo
ton, respectively instead Of 80. 20 and 81,
as at present This gives more time for
printing tickets. The Secretary OF the
Commonwealth must certify nominations
to the Sheriff and Commissioners II days
before election instead of 10 as now re
quired.
The method Of marking ballots is chang
ed to require cross mark opposite the
name of each candidate voted for except
Presidential electors, where one mark op-
posite the party name votes for all.
The number of official ballots furnished
is unchanged. but only sufficient num-
Der of specimen ballots is required. and the
County Commissioners may require the
election judges to come to their office Oh
the dav before election and receive and
receipt for all ballots for their districts.
One voting compartment is to beturnisi-
ed for every 75 voters. instead of every %,
and curtain or door must be placed
across the upper part to screen the voter
from observation while marking his ballot
The name and residence of the person
vouching for an unregistered vote must be
indorsed on the ballot check list. opposite
the voters name. Reasonable compensa-
ton for party watchers shall be included
in the proper election expenses of candi-
dates and political committees.
The most important change is that rela-
tive to the disability OF voters. 1t reads
as follows
If any voter, before receiving his ballot,
declares to the judge of election that ne
cannot read, or for any physical cause be
il unable to mark it, the judge shall require
him Except in cases OF manifest physic.'
disability tn make oath or affirmation to
the fact. stating it specifically, and shall
then permit him to select one qualified
elect0r of the district as a helper The
helper shall first declare, on oath or affir-
nation, that he will not attempt to inhu-
ence the vote of said voter, but will only
give him the help be may desire, and that
be will lot disclose the contents OF The
bellot to anyone except when required sc
to do in any legal proceedings. The IN
spector in charge Of the voting check lls'
shall, in any such case, note thereon oppo-
site the name of the voter helped the words
Helped by" naming the helper, ION ac,
count Of" stating the cause.
A public count is also specifically pro
vided for.
These amendments have been prep aret
by the Pennsylvania Ballot Reform AZ
sociation. which body drew up the origi
nal bill G. G. Bunney, of Philadelphia, Ill
secretary was in Harrisburg last week ant
stated that the association thought thes'
amendments would make Penpsy lgania'
ballot laws the best in the country. Th'
amendment requiring cross-rnark oppo
site zach name is made not only to avolC
the confusion arising from the use OF 1--WE
ways Of marking; but in view of recen
decision of the Supreme Court of Califor
MIA, that TO allow the voting of whole
ballot by one mark placed those who de
sired to split their tickets under more bur
densume conditions than others, and wal
contrary to that provision of the California
Constitution requiring uniform election
laws. As Pennsylvania constitution ha:
similar requirement, it was considered
best TO have mark opposite each name
except Presidential electors, which arr
usually voted for straight.
PRESIDENT HARRISON surprised every
body last Thursday by naming Howell E