St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-09-05
THE NEW ELECTION LAW.

THE NEW ELECTION LAW.
The following is sa,upls of sew
eral letters We hayc lately received
in resssd b the new election law:
ITO the Edltor Of the Times D,mocns:
"There see ms he come misunder-
standing among the country people
about the new election law. Please
state what the qualifications Of =
voter are IN lie country, and does
tue law go iEtO affect at the Novem-
Der election. By answering the
above you will much oblige
FREE SILVER.
''Grant Parish, La, Aug. 26 1885,"
From several Communicates re-
cei-ed by us lately, aud from The
comments in some of the country
papers. it would appear that there
IS = decided difference OF opinion
IS to the provisions and require
ments Of the new election law,
which it would be well to lay ut
rest IS soon as possible. This will
probably be done before the cleo
ton. as the new law requires tue
State to instruct tue voters rs to
their duties; but the sooner the
matter is explained the better.
There are q number of important
changes in the law, and it will take
the voters some time to make them
selves acquainted with the new OBJ
legations placed upon them. There
is large amount of illiterxcy in
Louisiana. which will find it diff
ficult to vote intelligently under the
new law. In New York, and nearly
all the Northern States where the
Australian ballot has been intro
duced, it has been found necessary
to establish voting schools weeks be-
fore the elections, 50 that voters
would make no mistake by preparing
their ballots improperly aud in such
. form that they would not be
counted and, in spite of the schools,
tle:c are thousands Of ballots i'm
properly and illegally made out
at every election.
Relative to the specific questions
asked by Free Silver" we would
say (1) there is no change in the
qualifications Of voters, and (Z)
that the election law will be in full
effect ut the presidential election
in November.
An attempt was made ct the late
election to change tue suffrage
provisions by disquIifying all nom
naturalized foreigners, and by re
curing rioters to read and write or
pay taxes on q certain amount of
property but this very proper and
necessary provision was lost in the
wild scramble over the offices. All
those, therefore, who voted in the
State election will be entitled to do
60 in November.
The new registration law, which
will probably reduce the numb-r
Of voters by discouraging the ig-
norant classes from registering, is
not yet in effect, and will not go
into effect until January. as it will
take some siue to put it into oper.
alton. The new election law, how
ever, lie now in full force, and oil
future elections will be held under
it. 1t establishes in New Orleans
tue complete Australian ballot law,
in its most advanced form and as it
exists in Massachusetts, while in the
parishes it establishes a
modified Australian ballot.
Without touching on that part Of
the law relating TO the election OFF,
cers-for it is the duty of the State
to instruct them-we call attention,
at the requests Of correspondents.
to the moot important changes made
IN our election system which concern
the general public, and which apply
to the whole State, not to New Or
leans alone.
The mos. striking novel and inn
portant features of the new law are
(1) the provisions IN regard to the
of candidates, aud ~
the official ballot which must be
voted. and which alone will be |
This ballot is provided
BY the State, at ;t5 expense, and
must contain the names Of all cam
didates for Office. In order, there
lore to be voted for, . candidate
must furnish the State with an Of
fetal record of his nomination, aud |
must see that his name is on this |
official ballot. 'rhe matter If ncml- |
nation, therefore, becomes a most
one, and independent
have very little show
u success unless they take the pre-
to have their names placed
upon the regular ballot.
Any convention Of delegates
eplesenting u political party, or
other nominating body, which At