The record-union., 1894-12-22
SHALL WE VOTE BY MACHINE.

SHALL WE VOTE BY MACHINE 2
The recount of votes for certain Offices
in this county now proceeding, proves
that opportunities for fraud and mistake
in the method of voting we now have.
and that we had, and in any we can pos
sibly have so long as paper ballots are
used, are numerous. In the estimation
of most onlookers at the recount, it is
demonstrated that the only way to make
an original first tally correct is to vote by
machinery, because the act of balloting
then records itself in way that cannot
be changed, and the result of the election
will be known within the moment after
the polls close, thus putting beyond pos
sibility the cooking Of returns by re-
turning board.
In New York the ballots are destroyed
so soon as the count is finished. This
prevents any recounting, of course, and
We are impressed with its wisdom. 1t
makes the first count the only one; if
there has been fraud in that, all parties
must stand to it and suffer the conse-
quences. This fact makes all candidates
and parties exceedingly watchful of the
count, and is insurance, in large degree,
against dishonesty.
But the voting machine, if it is all it is
reported to be after the official trials in
New York last spring, is the ideal instru-
1nent for having fair count. The voter
presses button, or pulls knob. or
moves slide-for there are many kinds
of the machine-opposite each name for
which he wishes to vote. Instantly the
fact is recorded by the mech anism in
side, and the knob, pull or button is
locked down. He then proceeds to the
next name, and the same process is gone
through with. Or, in the first instance,
he touches the "straight' knob and votes
the straight ticket only, that act locking
all the other knobs. When he leaves the
booth, the inspectors and judges, by q
simple device, release the keys, and the
machine is ready for the next voter.
When the polls close the total vote
opposite each name is found recorded
inside the machine, and the result can be
instantly published. This fact in itself
is powerful argument in favor of the
machine. 1t is Understandable that it is
just as easy to press a button, or pull a
knob opposite name set before one be-
meath glass strip as it is to stamp an
''N" on paper opposite a name. One
may lose his vote by his marking the
''X." but he can make no such mistake
with the machine. It therefore is a
realization of the ideal, very nearly, of
the New York idea the destruction of
the ballots.
1t prevents tampering with ballots,
holding back returns, fooling with sealed
envelopes, and calling up precinct officers
10 correct errors or to compel them to
sign returns, and all that, of which San
Francisco has given US such an example
recently.
The machine is open to the objection
that one can vote only for nominees-he
cannot write in a new name, as now, in
his ballot. But voting is not right but
a privilege. The people have seen fit to
and at the late election they put still
another handicap upon voting. There
is, therefore, no right to complain resid-
ing with any one. if the people see fit TO
further limit the voting privilege by re-
quiring votes cast TO be for candidates
who have been nominated, in some way,
a given number of days before the date OF
the election.
Under the revised Constitution of New
York, just adopted. the Legislature is au-
thorized to so legislate that voting ma
Chimes may be used in all elections in
that State. The people of New York have,
therefore, at the polls deliberately ap-
proved the machine method. and this
after what evidently was a very thorough
and satisfactory trial.
Just as long as men are the instruments
the law employs to count ballots and
make up tally sheets, and seal returns
and keep ballot packages until final
canvass, just that long there viii be fraud
and trickery in announcing election re-
suits, and the will Of the people will be
Liable TO defeat, and thus the essential