New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-14
FOR A BLANKET BALLOT.
AMENDMENTS TO THE ELECTION LAW
PROPOSED BY THE CITY CLUB.
PROVISIONS FOR BALLOTS ELEC-
TIoN INSPECTORS TO BE EVENLY DIVIDED
NUMBER.

TION INSPECTORS 10 BE ENE>Li NV iNHD
IN NUMBER.
The city Club has prepared elaborate amend
,nent TO the general election law now ID force IN
This State. 1t is entitled, Amendments TO the
Irec,ion Law New-York City Consolidation Act,
,ne Town Law the Act Relating to the Election
.of School Commissioners" These amendments will
call for an extended consideration Of the pHsent
LEGISLATURE of this State they have been framed
nv the ablest lawyers in the City Cuo
Gustav Schwab. the chairman Of the conference
and the subcommittee. presided
Tho Blanket Ballot Committee of the City Club
that had charge of this work adopted what Is
known as 1.-THE party column system as II was
found Impossible secure any serious support for
tho system now in vogue in Massachusetts. This
was in the nature of compromise. but it was en-
,relv satisfactory to the members OF the club.
The most radical changes in the proposed amend
,nants are to found in sections % 81. ST. loi and
M There are other changes. but they are-with the
execution OF the method of appointing the election
officers OF New-York and Brooklyn-of minor i'm
variance The new law contemplates the appoint
ment Of election inspectors. as heretofore with
the pleasing arrangemnt that TWO inspectors arc
IN he Of the party receiving the highest number
., votes at the last general election and two OF
the PARTY receiving the next highest In New-Nork
and Rrooklyn this will divide the honors evenly
between the Republican party and the machine
Democrats.
There are also to be two poll and two bal
iOt-c1erkS Their APPOINTMENT - dlHO " NC i''''N
on = marty basis In the past Tammany has had
,,rea inspectors IN every election district. and in
soma districts whore the method Of voting was
"earlv and often" the Republican who dared open
his mouth in the way OF protest was quickly voted
down. and II he became too obstreperous was
thrown into the street This also true in many
BROOKLYN election districts. The new law contem-
nlates giving both sides fair show so far as the
legal aspect Of the case Is concerned.
THE DUTIES OF INSPECTORS.
Tn Section 80 IT provided the inspectors OF
each election district shall make up the register OF
voters In the cities only such persons VINO per
sonallv appear before the inspectors will be entitled
70 have their names enrolled. For special elections
the inspectors who by the way. hold Office for
one year may place the registry list the name
Of any voter who was qualified to vote at the las'
general election and who was still eleib.' ms IL
10 be done at the first meeting Of the in 'octors'
ANY person not the last list but entitled to vote
may appear and have his name put on the list.
A more liberal ARRANGEMENT Is proposed Tor voters
living elsewheTe ,han an IN ner 9wn who IS entitled
TO have his name the registry list. but suffers
b fT0m from prSperY casting his Vote must make
oath to the same and minute Is placed upon me
sworn to- If the person is iterate he must swear
to this fact. and note to that effect IS made upon
Section 81 deals With the form of the Official bal
i s3ec snd IN he 6owng Section there shall
f-rm Of ballot which shall contain ar f ce o f
be voted for by the electors of that poiling-place
THE OFFICIAL BALLOT
The following is the language Of this section in
part:
At the upper lefthand corner OF each ballot shall III
height which shall project above ne Top OF b
ballot proper and shall be sfparayeI reaSly Pe de-
tached from the ballot. The stubs Of The official
numbers on the backs thereof, and nothing else
shall be printed the back Of the STUBS. On Inc
f iX6e f the Words ofica ballot or and after the
word for shall fCloW We the df e prcpared on
he back of each official ballot below the STUB;
shall be printed in great pT nea R Sao foT and
after the word for shall follow the date Of the the
e efscGh or T Of the president clerk q the board
pro of Excise Of towns for other
town offices, are not held az the same 'nG nGarsed
The ballot. below the stub and below the printed
lines into columns hereinafter referred to as party
columns The number OF s9Sh If candGa,4s to be
voted for at the polling place igr | ccrtirtes Of
I, pT0yGs Taeh of ey SAID ar
he two and one-half inches in width At ne 'op Oh
each Of said columns shall be printed the nam
and device Of the political party or or amer o are
printed in such column; Immediately Delqw "u ' ne
device so printed in each party column snail be be
printed e ynler ay make ei marx if he
10 vote for all Of the candidates whose NAMES are
printed or written Dy MIN III SNCH I"i'S N''N'''- 49,
Within each party column shall be printed ,, the
polling place may vote at that election ana heo%S
the @ Of s eIGh ONCE ss pesnddss
mated indorsed by the certificate Of nomination
whose sne name printed at the top Of party
column But where candidate duly nominated Tor
any given Office has been indorsed by an lndependent
certificate OF nomination. signed by smaiier nun
Der Of electors than is rfG a sa o S S b Of
the candidate for that office so indorsed SHAH not
S be pr, 30 ndorsng m In the party column
right hand side OF each ballot shall be printed me
titles of all of the Offices for which the electors AT
the polling place for which the ballot IS proVlded
may lawfully vote and underneath the tue b OF eacn
Office shall be left blank space in which the voter
may write the names of any candidate or cahduates
SsS whoss for that not right
hand side Of the name OF each candua,e prhht eb
may be in the form of square. in which the voter
may make cross * mark If ne desires 10 rovided
The names of candidates for the once OF fpid
tors. may be printed in double columns WITHIN ti
provided opposite the printed name OF each can
ddate for that office. within which the voter may
Each official ballot shall be Of such form and so
s @So t1e Of Seen hs n is @
Der on the back Of the stub shall be viseli, am th
ballot or exposing or removing any portion ueIeIl
below the perforated line. All Of the Official PAL
board for the Po9s sha be of p sn5
eseiy the same SIZE quality ana uhl Oh xxx xxx Ink
Of the same tint that when the stubs numbered
aforesaid shall be detached therefrom 1t shall De
impossible to distinguish any Of the ballots
from the other ballots Of the same sort -,
The party other names at the head or thc
several party columns shall all be printed in type OF
the same size and kind; the emblems or devices
printed at the head Of the several party columns
shall be Of reasonable, and as nearly as may De
of uniform, size; and the of all candidates
for the same Office shall be printed In type or the
same size and character
'HELPERs" ALLOWED UNDER RESTRICTIONS
Section 1Oi deals with physically disabled and IL
Hterate After making oath to the particular
form OF disability, the elector Is be permitted TO
choose some TO help him arrange his ballot
Should he want to vote 'paster he must use
the "Ofical paster' provided by the ballot clerk
The helper" may go into the booth with the