Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-08-02
A yOIING MACHINE.


Recent events here have directed
general attention to proposed reform
In voting methods, Ia order 10 secure n
mere complete expression OF the citi.
zrns' sentiment, aud suggestions 10.
gsrding tbs Australian plan have been
freely discuss q. Ia this connection
II Ia OF inIoros, TO note the work ot u
California editor, W. II. Ellis. Of the
Woodland M,h. who In, perfected a
voting machine anu has Just applied
/ for letters patent thereon. The
machine IL designed not only to pre-
vent fraud by interference with the
ballot boxes after the polls arc closed,
but also 10 facilitate arriving nj
tho result Ut the election;
aud u the reports OF recent
test made afo accurate, the machine
can do some wonderful work. II
was placed in operation Al "a
poll where $50 votes were cast,
while p0ll Il which only little over
100 voters deposited their ballots was
handled by an election board in tho
utual fashion. with sixteen names on
each ticket, tho Judges at the small
roll took two hours to declare the 70.
suit, while the machine at tho larger
pluCe acc mpllshed Its WORK with per.
foot accuracy ia twelve minutes. II
this Ia true ttst Of tho comparative
methods, the legitimate uso Of n
"mpchino In poliIios" has boon found
" last.
MI Ellis's plan USES q piece Of heavy
cardboard ior ballots. As with the
Australian system, the names OF all
candidates arc printed on It. Instead
ofu-inga rubber stamp 10 mark TIT
choice, tue intending voter IL provided
with punch, which cuts N.-hapcd
notch In the edge OF che ticket opposite
each name which II Ia desired TO vote
fuL Tue ticket Ia handed 10 the voter uy
tho clerk u election, who Mt the
same Time hands the voter a wooden
or Tin sheath sud his punch. lnr
voter marks his ticket, punching out
tho edge Of the ticket opposite the
name Of the party voted for whon
THIS is completed the voter puts tho
the punch end or side OF tho ticket in
tie sheath, cJuevgllng his vote, anu
uauts it 90 the Olurb. The act OF ru.-
ting tho ti.hrl In tue sheath su,umatl.
calIy locks %, Aui tho ballot cunuut
bn taken cut until 70 n placed over the
aperture Ia tho ballot box. The clvrk
OF Judge OF election, after placing the
hllcd sheath over the aperture, un.
locks It and tho ballot drops Into the
box. Here q mechanical continuance
suuillss the ballots, 10 thst any enc
knowing tue order IN which each party
voted could not discover by the posi-.
ton OF the ballot In the box now that
party had voted. Whie the shunl ug
process h goiug ON the ballot h STAMPED
"yOIed," "clnoolrd" OF in such
other way 80 may be Devised. As
uscl ballot 10 Deposited an index shows
the uumuur OF ballots cast, ~ int the
record Is iautomRtio Throughout. The
box 10 provided with glas, front,
which may be- covered with wood OF
metal during the process II voting, ilr
protection. When the polls close,a rod
is run through the box aad through
holo In tue ticket specially provided
Tor THE purpose. This foJ Is then pad.
locked aud secured with % seal, anu the
counting OF the nolches may be doue
through the glass front without die,
turbing the contents OF the box.
The device appesrs to be very slim
Vic one. tue successful operation oi