The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-18

Among the lavz passed by the state
legislature at its latest session were TWO
relating 90 elections One OF these bills
consists OF several amendments 10 the
general elections act Among them Is a
provision which entirely changes the Rrm
OF the ballot TO be used Instead OF the
candidates Of each party being in sep
arafe lists they are all grouped under the
ONCE for which they are candidates. This
does away with the blanket ballot, but IT
viii make strip OF inordinate length
unless the state and county offices are on
separate ballots. which does not seem 10
have been provided for.
A sensible amendment Ii thai when a
ballot rs sufficiently plain 10 gather there
from, part OF the voters intention, II
shall be the duty of the judges OF cleo
ton to count such part" OF course. this
leaves an opening for dispute. but It is
well to have the general principle laid
down.
II is also made unlawful TO have the
name of a candidate repeated. The can
dbdate may select which party he desires
Nominations will be made by party con-
venfions. as before, but candidates for
any Office may be made by fling a cerfi-
fcate. such az required for party nomina-
tons. In that case, the certificate must
be signed by 100 IL for state office. 800
for a county. district or other division of
the state. and not less than twenty-five
for township. precinct or ward OF
course. all signers must be duly qualified
electors. but the signatures need not all
be on one certificate
Important changes are also made in the
primary election law. The Australian sys-
tenn Is applied, and after counting the
votes the judges must file the tally list
and ballots with the county clerk. where
they shall be kept as part OF the public
records until after the adjournment OF
the convention for which the election was
held.
Under this law primary elections are
only legal when the call for the same shall
have been made by resolution and attested
by the chairman and secretary of the DO
f'Hs~r~N - - sAA-NtA4h- ~ anu bs
in local newspaper. In order to vote In
political primary it is necessary to pos
sess the same publications required of
voters at general elections, with such other
qualifications as party organization may
impose.
Rival ballots are abolished The persons
to be voted for as delegates shall be Sc
iected In excess by at least twice the num-
Der to be elected in each polling precinct,
and such selection must be made at least
one day before the primaries. The names
of the delegates so selected must then be
printed on one ballot, which shall be the
only ballot voted at the primaries, and
shall be obtained only from the primary
election officers Immediately before voting.
Altogether the new provisions are in the
interest OF the freest expression of opin-
Ion consistent With party organization,
and so few names are required for an
independent nomination there seems no
obstacle IN the way of putting up candi-
dates free from the domination of local
cliques. II every vote IL called out there
should no longer be any pretext that every
man is not fairly represented no. only in
the choice OF candidates but in the selec-
ton of officials