The record-union., 1895-01-30
SELF-TALLYING BALLOT-BOx
a Californfan's Device for Preventine


a Californtan's Device for Preventing
Fraud at Elections.
In these days of ballot reform agitation
q Calilornian-H. II. NieUur of Ferndale
Humboldt County-comes to the front
with voting machine. which he calls "a
self-tallying ballot box" for which he
has received a patent. Mr.. Niebur is
now in this city and is stopping at the
Western Hotel. He has one OF his ma
chimes here for the inspection OF men,
bers of the Legislature and others inter
ested.
Voting by this ballot-box and system
Is done by means OF a mechanical ticket,
Or voting tray. This, in size and shape,
IS something like the present Australian
blanket ticket That is, all the various
candidates names are written or printed
on the surface thereof, those of each DO
NElcal party in a row by themselves, but
they may be scattered about, as in the
present Australian system. Instead OF
making a cross mark with pencil or
stamp, the voter puts ball ballot into a.
hole at the end OF the name of the caudi-
date for whom he wants TO vote. A series
OF movable slides between the rows Of
holes representing the candidates, pre-
vent the opening Of more than one hole
Tor each office, thus double voting Is
made impossible.
y slide on the under side OF the trav
prevents the ballots from droppiur ont
until wanted. The secrecy of the ballot
Is obtained by lid which Is shut down
over this tray ,or ticket and etfectuaIly
prevents anyone but the voter from
knowing how he voted The clerk de-
posts IN one OF these trays one ballot Tor
each Otice. The voter, as in. the present
system, retlres 10 booth and there, uu-
observed, selects his candidates from the
uluerent political parties Tor the different
offices to De nlled. he then shuts down
tie lid and brings the ticket lor trav} TO
the Inspector, who takes II and puts II ON
Top OF the batIot-ooN. Then, by pulling
lever, the slide on the under side of the
tray Is moved, and all the bail ballots
drop down into the ballot box.
ms box Is square, the same size ss the
tray on top, and III hight about three feet.
The ballot-OoN IS filled with conparL-
mentS, one Tor each Office and one for
each candidate voted for. The size of
these COMPARTMENTS is 2!xs inches, and
from Il 10 20 inches IL hight. They stand
on end, side by side, ana back 10 front:
are open on one side; rest on q bridge
and are removable.
inside eaCl compartment is the taIlyin q
device. 4EIs consists of = spindle, a
metallic ROD oue-Quarter inch in diam
eter ana tile length OF the compartment
The upper part OF the spindle is cut in 10
q screw. ILe lower part Is enlarged. and
contains spiral Slot. The ball ballot. in
dropping through the compartment.
strikes tnis spiral slot and gives the SPIN
die halI-turn. y nut on the screw part
OF the spindle, with an index finger and a
strip o. paper with the proper figures
aud degrees, completes the taiIying de-
vice.
The ball ballots, after having regis
tered themselves, drop into hopper. and
out OF The UcE into q N-shaped trough
and the voting tray and the balIou are
then ready for another voter.
OF these trays there will be used at escb
precinct as many as may be necessary
Ia small precinct OF twenty voters
only one would be necessary, while in a
precinct OF 800 voters there would no
needed at least ten voting trays. These
are ali alike, duplicates OF each other, and
al NJ the top OF the ballot-UoX. anu the
Euialns Ianges at the corner Of the hal
4oI- ooA hold the trays in position, 50 that
the Dali ballot must drop into tue com
pariment OF the candidate for whom the
voter lnte1ss 10 cast his ballot
Inc ball ballots are OF steel and abort
half an Inca II diameter. The box and
tray can be made OF wood, metal or any
suitable material. The estimated cost rf
one of the bSilOt-b0xes is. for q praeii,,,t
OF SO voters, s02 50; for q precinct OF 600
voters, SO; for 3 school district VOTING
Tor trustees 20 voters, S1l
The necessary officers Of elections held
nnder this system. are one Inspector 10