The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-02
TIE AUSTRALIAN BALLOT
10 Be EngaItsd on the lndersoa.Ec.
Cormlck Law
DISCU .SlOa OF ELECTION METHODS.
Pull Csucus of the Democratic LegisIs-
tors Decides to Throw afe-Guards
Around the Polls In Virginia

Another caucus of the Democratic men,
bers OF the General Assembly on the
Walton bill. providing for the ENGRAVING
Of the Australian ballot system on the
Mccormick election law, was
held last evening. There was a full DIS
cussion on the subject. which lasted I'M
I'll 1870 p. NJ, when the vote was taken.
The discussion was kept up so long that
when the vote was finally taken there
was not very large attendance. Those
who spoke in favor Of the btu were
Messrs. Walton. Patteson. Hathaway.
and Flood. Those who opposed II were
Messrs. Gibson. NicoI, Murrell. Pretlow,
and Dejarnette.
The vote resulted in Is for and %
against the biz.
Tn Walton BIZ.
The bill which was introdut ed by Sena-
tor Walton about a month ago is entitled
A bill 10 regulate State, county, and NUM-
cipal elections in the State Of Virginia
The effect Of this bin is 10 engraft the
Australian ballot on our present election
system. and, framed, is similar in
Winchester, which has proven quite salts
factory In that city.
The bill requires that all nominations
for political offices shall be made known
20 the Secretary Of the Commonwealth
In case Of Federal and State elections
and to the secretary of electoral boards
in county and municipal elections.
There shall be an official ballot which
must be delivered under seal to the sec
rotary Of the electoral boards Of the
state which shah contain the names OF
all of the candidates.
These shall be distributed to the judges
OF the elections at the various precincts
two being allowed 10 each registered
voter
All Of the ballots shall be accounted
for and il any are mutilated or de-
faced. they shall be returned with
proper explanations.
The voting shall take place i'm "A booth
TO be constructed for the purpose, and
no one shall be permitted 20 remain with
in fifty yards Of the said booth. except
a special constable selected for the pur
pose whose duty it shall be to preserve
order. and when called upon on account
Of the illiteracy OF the voter TO read the
same TO him. so that he can vote inteii-
gently. After arranging the ballot by run
ming a pen through the names OF those
he does not desire to vote for. two and
half minutes being allowed each voter
for the purpose. the voter shall go imme-
diately 10 the ballot box and deliver his
ballot to one OF the judges of the election.
who shall deposit il in the said ballot
box.
or. in other words it IS the adaptation
OF the salient features of the Australian
10 Hoe 70 ottr prccapt electoral lgt
~. NOR 80 ton Op. -.
At the time when Senator Walton in
troduced this bill he stated to a repre-
sentative Of The Times that he was al
most under a pledge TO offer this or some
other Law which would improve our cleo
ton system. but in common with other
Democrats he was 10th TO attack Demo-
cratic methods. Said he:
1t is very apparent from evidence from
all sections OF the State that there should
be the most abundant safeguards thrown
around the eanctity Of the ballot box.
That there are and have been abuseS
OF the present system Of our election laws
as there will be about any that nay be
framed hereafter, goes without the say
ing.
There are two objects 10 be accom-
plshed IN the construction Of any eiec-
ton law, one is TO prevent fraud, and
the other the corrupt use Of money.
IL is believed that the first object can
be effected by the honest administration
of the law as 1t stands on our statute
books, and the other object can be ac-
complished by the adoption Of an election
law similar in character 20 the bill
which | introduced to-day.
The menaCing and cOrrupting feature
of the present law is the ability 10 buy
votes and 10 see that the goods are
delivered according TO contract.
Under this bill no one would be willing
TO make an investment in the votes. be-
cause Of the way in which the vote would
be delivered. This would make buying
OF votes practically useless, as well as
uncertain.