The record-union., 1893-03-07
CORRECT THE COUNTING SYSTEM.

CORRECT THE COUNTING SYSTEM.
If there is no Act passed by the Lepis-
lafure and sent to the Governor to better
the present election counting system, a
very grave error viii be committed.
The present counting system is that
which has obtained since California was
admitted into the Union. 1t is the most
primitive and the most defective known.
An impression prevails that the system
Is part of the ballot reform law, but it is
not, and has no legislative relation to it.
The method we now employ is open to
the easy preparation of crimes against
the ballot. 1t is so defective that in the
late election in San Francisco there were
not, out of over 200 precincts, twenty in
which the count was made to reflect the
true expression OF the electors. In the
only contest made and carried through.
the count OF the Election Boards was re-
Versed, and a citizen TO whom certid-
cate of election had been issued was un-
seated from Office, and another candidate
declared by judicial decree TO be elected.
Either that result came of the rascality
and perjury OF the election officers, or of
their ignorance and inability-probably
the three elements combined. 1t is not
unlikely that other seated officers would
be dispossessed of their positions if re-
count were had along the whole line.
The present law is cumbersome; it
eXacts to much OF physical capacity; it is
costly in operation; it is unreasonably
long in determining results. 1t ought to
be comparatively easy to frame an Act
and to pass it this session that will give
us results of an election within an hour
after the polls close; that will put fresh,
clear-headed men, instead of weary,
wornout and half-intoxicated ones. at the
task OF counting; that will eliminate. as
lar as a law can, the opportunity to fraud
uIently count. By three suggested meth
ods this may be done. Create counting
board for each precinct, to count as the
vote progresses; say as fast as Twenty-Five
votes are cast to remove the ballot box
and substitute an empty one. Such
board should be chosen by an entirely
different authority from that selecting
the election board-the courts for in
stance. It's members should be reouired
10 possess the qualifications of clerical
skill, sobriety, known business ability
and general reputation for good char
acter.
This board should be required to count
in the presence of representatives of the
political parties and of a reasonable num-
Der OF the public and to announce and post
the result of the count as fast as twenty
five ballots are tailed off. In all cases of
doubt as to the intent of the voter in
marking the ballot, it should be sealed
mp and transmitted to a court or election
commission, or some other authority to
pass upon after the parties interested are
heard. This is plan that has many adj
vocates. A second plan is to have SEN
srate counting board as above specified.
hAS ~ SAfO - AOAA ROMSI 10 uel6rmlnG,
and when it has determined to reouire
the burning of the ballots, so that re-
counting and contests will be impossible.
The third suggested method is to ap-
ply to cities only, and calls for a central
board of clerks presided over by selected
officials. To this central body the ballot
boxes are to be sent the moment the polls
close, the police being given the duty of
transportation. The count is then to take
place in public view at the city hall or
other appointed place. The ballots are
then to be filed, sealed and kept as now
provided or to be destroyed as in the
other case. This latter plan is not so
speedy as the others.
a number of bills referring to election
methods are now before the Legislature.
They are too numerous to be taken up in
this place. Something ought to be done.
however, whatever else is, to simplify
and guard the count of the ballots. It
ought not take the houses long to agree
upon some system different from that we
have-none could be slower or more
family