The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-03
HOW TO CAST YOUR VOTE
RULES AND REGULATIONS UNDER
WHICH BALLOTING Is DONE.
Provisions of the Law with Which
order to Avoid Mistakes.
ri,e.i.5T-- 80,

Experience in 4the elections held in this
State under the Australian ballot law has
demonstrated that at each election many
thousand ballots are thrown out and not
counted, by reason of the ignorance or
carelessness of the voters in not observing
the provisions of the law and because their
ballots are stamped in such a manner as to
render them void. In this way thousands
of voters are practically disfranchised at
every election. To avoid this every voter
should. before voting, familiarize himself
with the few and simple provisions of the
election law.
Every voter, on entering the election
room, will be furnished with two ballots,
one printed on red paper and one on white
paper. The red ballot contains the names
of all the candidates for State officers
which includes the presidential electors,
whose names appear first upon each ticket
on the ballot. Immediately under the large
square inclosing the device of each party.
The white ballot contains the names of
the congressional legislative and county
candidates. The several names of the can
d.dates of each party are printed upon this
ballot, Immediately beneath the large
square inclosing the device of the party.
The poll clerks furnish these ballots to the
voter, and also a stamp 1t is then the
duty of the voter to go into one of the
booths and there stamp each of the bal
lots in such manner as to indicate for
whom he desires to vote. If he desires to
vote Il straight ticket--that is, If he desires
to vote for all the candidates of any par
ty-he should stamp upon the large square
inclosing the device at the head of the
list of candidates of such party, and stamp
no other place. If he does not desire to
vote a straight ticket, then he must not
stamp the large square inclosing the device,
but must stamp upon the small square to
the left of the name of each candidate for
whom he desires to vote.
After stamping his ballots he must. be-
fore leaving the booth, fold each ballot so
that the face of 1t cannot be seen and in
such way as to show the initials of the
poll clerks, which are written on the up
per right-hand corner on the back of each
ballot. He should then return the stamp
to the poll clerk and present his ballots to
the Inspector. who deposits the red ballot
in the red ballot box and the white one in
the white ballot box. Care should be taken
by the voter before leaving the booth to
carefully fold his ballots in, the manner re-
quired by the law, for if he fails to do
in such way that the stamp upon il
can be seen, he forfeits his right to vote.
and he must destroy the ballot in the pres
ence of the board and leave the room
without voting.
The stamp must be upon the square: that
is. it must be within or touch the square
If it is not within or does not touch the
square. the ballot is void. and will not be
counted.
If the ballot is mutilated or torn or
marked by either scratching name out or
writing one in, or marked in any other way,
except by stamping the square or squares,
the ballot is void, and will not be counted.
If the voter is physically unable to stamp
his ballots, or cannot read the English
language, he should inform the election
board, and it is then the duty of the poll
ing clerks TO take his ballots and, in his
presence and in the presence of each other,
stamp them for him so as to indicate the
way in which. he desires to vote. v
If the voter should accidentally or by
mistake deface. mutiiate or spoil his bal
lot or stamp it wrong he should return
it to the poll clerk and receive a new bal
lot. m
The large square inclosing the picture of
party. Therefore, If you want to vote for
Mckinley and the Republican candidates,
stamp upon the large square inclosing the
eagle. Stamp but once, and stamp no other
place on the ticket. ib1sl -fa.