Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-03-30
THE ELECTION LAW.


passed by The Legislature. 1t
would be we'll for our subscribers to
study 1t carefully, for iii neces'
sary to understand the law in or
der to vote lntelligently. This law
has been commended by some and
condemned by others. 1t has its
good features and its baG features.
So far as it prevents or makes diff
ficult the bribery of voters it is a
good law. There is nothing which
to-day threatens the purity and
stability of republican govern
ments so much as unfair or i'm
pure elections. Oar whole theory
of government is based upon an ex'
preston OF the popular will as
ascertained by elections. la the
earlier days Of the republic, the
American people had an almost
slcred reverence for our system of
holding elections. Every election
was honestly conducted, aud the
object of all election laws was to
secure to the people an honest and
fair expression OF their will. Such
is not the case, however, at this
time. The party having control OF
the National government endeavor-
ed to pass such election laws as
would best secure the interests,
not of the government but, of the
party in power. Naturally at this
day, every election law is looked
upon with suspicion by all, except
the party through whose inStru-
mentality it was enacted.
One feature Of this law which
has been generally condemned, aud
Justly too, Is the 25.h section which
provides for the appointment of
one constable whose duty it
is to assist the lliiterate IN pre-
pairing their ballots. This feature
of the law is worth much to the
party that has the appointment of
the constaOles.
The law defines what shall be
printed on the tickets. If we un-
derstand this to mean that the
Electoral Boards shall print moth
iug but what the law directs them
to have printed, it is readily seen
that it will be very difficult under
this law to vote for presidential
electors. This law requires the
names of all candidates complying
with the provisions required, to be
printed Immediately below the OF.
flee for which they have announced
their candidacy. 1t appears that
the Board have no authority to 10
any way distinguish the tickets of
the different parties, bat under the
name "For Electors" we would
have a list Of at least forty eight
names, of which the voter Is ex.
pected to mark out thirty six and
thereby vote for twelve. Every
voter must know the names Of the
twelve electors on his party ticket,
or be would be likely to fail to
vote as he desired. Few men know
and few care " no are the electors.
They want to voc their party
ticket. This law makes 1t a very
cumbersome operation.
Each voter is allowed . mln.
utes to mark his ticket. In other
states, where the Australian ballot
law was adopted, the state author
tiles furnished copies OF the Of
fetal ballots and the voters were
instructed as to the proper mode OF
preparing their tickets; hut under
the Virginia law the voter Is not
permitted to know the size, style or
contents of bis ballot until he
goes into his booth, and if any one
makes known these important Sc
crets he is liable to a fine of.S2OOOO
and Imprisonment for one month.
Tue law however, is a step in the
right direction, and if it should be
so amended as to repeal the OBJ
jectlonable features, 1t would ac-
complish much in giving to the
people fair and just elections.