Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-13
AUSTRALIANS BALLOT cssAssEs
ssssestet V ths Lssisisisse BY Secretary q
Stats Fssssstea.

Secretary 81 State Fesxeplsn says al sI,e
Opening Of he Communication TO the Leg
isia.Erc, respecting the changes he proposes
in the present official balIo. Ias
desire 10 offer . suggestion, reiaiin. to
the form Vi the official ballot. together v i'll
the necessary amendments 70 carry the s,:s-
s4stion into effect. provided the same shall
meet with the approval Of the Legislasnfe.
This suggestion Is that the Legislature
authorize the nse ~ substantially the Sans,
form of Official ballot ~ exists in the state
Of Indiana. This form has proved success
IN that state. and judging from the expert
enes OF our own state. i could be adran-
tageoasly employed here,
4 glance at this form. and brief eorsiti
Grafton Of Its merit. in certain important
dsreetiofk. VIII suffice, in my opinion To
convince the eandii man that IL IL admirably
adapted for use, in the fnrtherance of
convenient and secret ballot and that iis
Dfoption will greatly facilitate the use of the
secret ballot system, while il viii reduce ilir
assistance needed at the bands of ballot
markers 70 a minimum.
/ Briefly stated it consists IN printing at
The head Of each party group on the ballot.
an emblem or device enelos ag such emblem
or device wish the pasiy speculation in
large s4usre and providing that al y
made anys here within the square shall be
a vote for the sbois ticket, at the sane
/ time preserving below ID, party appellatiou.
as now Ia ione,a sufficient space under each
candidates name for voter 10 write In any
name agreeable TO him. also providing a
l square or circle opposite each candidates
name. for the use of any voter who may de-
sire to vote tnixed or split ticket.
| Some Of the reasons which lead me 10
offer this suggestion are as follows
| LIST. Under the form provided for by the
| Law as it now stands, neutrality-suspicious.
/ thousands of voters neglected. to exerci-e
/ their right Of suffrage in this State. OWING
to FEELING of doubt or uncertainty Is 10
| how aud where TO mark tAeir ballots. The
| form suggest, would entirely obYiste this
difficulty beeau-e
I I'd. aHv person above the age Of infancy
whether such person could read or not, OF
write or not, would easily learn what en-
bem, device. or symbol stood for the party
| for whose candidates such person desired 10
vote.
! A picture, il of all things the best and
surest method or medium of conveying
information. II is 80 to the mind of the
infant, and continues so to be throughout
! life.
! Bird. The voters of the State may be
generally grouped into two classes. One
class, and by far the greater class namer-
| icaliy, desire to vote straight party ticket
this always has been tine fact, and doubtless
always will be the fact. Every possible
/ facility should be afforded this great major
~ In hai PIC n 80
quickest, most convenient aud surest way.
This form of ballot accomplishes this end
most admirably.
fth. The second ciass of voters, much
less numerically, mere handful by com.
parison, " it'll the other class, desire 20 vote
Il split ticket.
This form of ballot affords this class OF
voters, every facility they now have, AMI
the emblem or device at the head of each
party group, adds distinguishing feature
of such a marked character, that no doubt
can exist as to the exact column in which
will be found the different candidates foy
whom they may desire to vote,
9TH. The adoption of this form OF ballot,
will practically reduce the labor of the bal
lot clerks, so far az marking ballots is con-
cer1ed, to minimum. because with this
form. only voter who is totaliy blind or
one having lost the use of both hands. need
I require the ASST rance Vt clerk in marking.
This is a large gain in the direction OF
secrecy, and desirable one. If the prin-
ciple of secret ballot be correct then
that form of ba,Io: which affords the great
est degree af secrecy Is to he preferred
and there can be- no question
but that with this form there
would be rarely q case of voter I'M
able to mark his own ballot Every voter
would have learned, long before election
day, which emblem or device stood for his
party. Such device would stare at him
from the sample ballot. meet him in the
newspapers, be recognized with absolute
certainty. To instruct any voter where to
make his Y on such ballot would require
but a moment of time.
9TH This form of ballot has proved t.
be Il success in Indiana, and has accom-
plished in marked degree, precisely what is
herein claimed fer it. No reason exists
why il should not have alike effect here, as
it rests upon well known educational
principle, that it is easier to learn through
the eye by a picture, than by any other
method.
If it should be deemed best to empower
the State committee, rather than the State
party emblem. figure or deveice herein sug
gested. such change can b. easily made.
by substituting the words committee" for
conventions, a. Indicated in bracketted
oris in tie draft herewith presented.
lie recommends the amendment of sec
ton 10: first. il liue 10 after tile comma
following th, word ballot" strike out
all the rest of this sentence or clause of the
section and substitute the following
Above each group shall he placed the
name of the political party by which thu
candidates comprising such group were
placed in nomination. or by the political
, designation as described in the
certificate of nomination, or NOM
/ nation papers Together with the appro-
pirate party device, emblem or symbol
hereinafter provided for such party desig-
nation or name and symbol emblem or de-
vice 10 he enclosed in a square.
+ 2l In line - of said section after the
words ''bank space" strike out the words
AT the right of the name of the party or
political. designation. and also, and insert
the following said blank space to be in
I form either circle or a square.
/ Sd. In line 81. said section, after words
( land the like" insert ''ihc State cenyen-
1 lion or committees of political parties enti-
tied to hold nominating conventions under
: the provisions of this act, shall at the first
convection held after the APP
provai of this amendment, select a
/ figure or device suci, rs star. eagle, piow
! or some snch appropriate syln5ol az the
party device or emblem. The secretary of
such State convention, or on" of the secre-
1 taries thereof. shall forthwith certify such
figure or device 10 the secretary OF State.
aud such device thereafter shall be deemed
to be the de, ire or emblem etthe party Sc
Letting the same. ami sueh figure or device
shall he printed on ali ballots and At ma
tional and State elections at q g l'eaJ OF
! the party group or ticket. Immediately after
I the party appeila'ien or name. and such tg-
urc or device, together with such party
mime or designation. shall be enclosed IN a
! square as hereinbefore provided. Such
/ figure or device shall not he the flag Of the
nation. nor the seal nor eoafsot-arms OF
the United States or any state.
Ii, forty days prior to any national or
State election. any such political party
whose duty IL is to select such figure or de-
vice, shall not hare done 50 in state con-
( vention as aforesaid and certified saint ~
aforesaid to the secretary of State, or u
when such figures or devices are so certified
any two or more shall be found to be alike.
or SO much alike, IN the opinion of the sec
rotary of State, as to produce confusion 10
the voters mind regarding the same IN
either of such events is sliaii be the fats OF
! the secretary of State to select ssare OF
device for use a. aforesaid.
Such figure or device. once selected us