Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-20
PRESS COMMENTS.
Should be Allowed to Remain lust as II is.
portland Press.)

The system OF marking the DallOt now IN
use is as simple probably as it can be made.
The reason that go many voters failed to
mark it correctly was that the method was
different from that of two years ago. A
large per cent of the defective ballots in this
city at least was the result of marking by
the old method instead of the new, showing
that good many voters had not informed
| themselves of the change. Now if another
change is made there will surely be another
large crop of errors consequent upon con-
founding two and perhaps three methods.
| Unless there is some serious defect IN the
present method-and we see none-it should
be allowed to remain just as it is. In a
few years the people will so thoroughly
learn it that the errors will be reduced to
an Insignificant number, but if the method
be constantly altered they never will learn
it. If it is to be constantly tinkered it had
| better be abolished altogether.
Let the Law Stand.
cortland Advertiser.)
There is no good excuse for man failing
to vote correctly, who can read the English
language Understandings and is able in two
minutes to master the list of instructions to
voters.
| The probability is that the majority of
the mistakes on Monday were made through
confusing the mode of voting provided by
the act of 1891 with the amended mode pro-
vided by the last Legislature. The first bal
lot law provided two ways of voting, either
by mark against the party designation,
which was vote for the whole party group,
or by marks against the individual candi-
dates of the voters choice. This was used
in one State election, that of 1892, but it
was deemed too complex by the Legislature
elected that year, and was changed to the
present system of q single mark at the head
of ticket. The new plan is more simple
so far as relates to straight voting, and it
makes splitting no harder than before.
Nevertheless many voters, having failed to
inform themselves, have mixed up the
methods of 1892 and 1894, with the result
of losing their votes.
If now the law is to be amended again
after single trial, is not the result likely
to Re further confusion at the next election?
Why not let the method stand long enough
at least for the voters to become accus-
toned to it? In what way can the method
be improved? These are pertinent ques-
tons, and should be considered we'll before
an attempt is made to amend the ballot act
some more. 1t might be improved indeed
by adopting the simon pure Australian
method, as practiced in Massachusetts,.
That should have been done in the first
place. But having very fair sort of law
already, why not give it at least another
trial.
Let tho Law Remain as It Is.
Lewiston Journal.)
If the Maine Legislature keeps on chang
ing the method of voting every time it
meets, defective ballots will continue to
multiply and mixed-upness to accumulate.
1t cannot be otherwise. Let the law remain
as it is and in few years the people will be-
come thoroughly acquainted with it. A per-
manent way of voting is all that is necessary,
so far as avoiding mistakes is concerned, as
people soon get the hang of it, whatever it
may be. If the original law had not been
altered by the last Legislature, fewer mis-
takes would have been made last Monday
And numerous as they were, this years
blunders will be educational; for not many
of those who blundered this time will be
caught again in the same trap.
The suggestion that the proper remedy
for defective ballots is to once more confuse
the voters, strikes US as rather inconsiderate.
Certainly there is nothing so very mysteri-
GUS about the secret ballot law as it now
stands in Maine-notbing with which the
people will not familiarize themselves in a
short time but change it, and they will all
he at sea again.
We hope the Legislature will keep there
hands off and give the people fair chance
to learn how to vote.
Don't Touch II.
(Biddeford Journal.)
Don't tinker the Australian ballot law any
more. 1t is simple as it can be now, and
the only thing simpler is the man who can't
vote according to it.
Further Change Would Increase the Liability
OF Mistake.
(Biddeford Times.)
The Times believes that further changing
Of the voting system by the incoming Legis-
latufe would but increase the liability of
mistake. 1t is to the many alterations al
ready made in the original plan of marking
the ballots that most of the errors at the
polls should be credited.
II Gives the Voter Fair Chance.
portland Press.)
/ correspondent whose communication