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

g. ldbug electors can go on the
ticket ~ be voted Tor. From .
lack of ability 30 secure sufficient
signatures in time tl,e Maine geld
bug Democrats have been shut out
.! the election to he held in that
State, Sept. IA.
These certificates Of nomination
and nomination papers the former
being mace by the convention. the
latter on petitions or papers signed
by voters-,nust specify (1) tue
office for which the candidate is
nominated, (2) the party which be
representa-. (3) his place Of resi-
dence or business. These certiii-
Gates must be filed with the Secre-
tary Of State the fourth Tuesday
before election day (iIlat is by Oct.
6 in the case Of the coming elcc-
tion). and the nomination papers
the third Monday before election
(Oct. 1877. All nominations SO
made are deemed regular. and ANY
objection to them must be made
within three days, which objections
are passed on by board consisting
Of the Secretary Of State, Auditor
and Treasurer. That board decides
candidates are entitled to the party
name of Democrat, Republican,
etc. aud it will have to decide be-
tween the two Republican factions
in this State, which have mot only
named two full electoral tickets,
but seem likely 70 duplicate the
| candidates in each Of the congress
siOnal districts. Vacancies caused
BY death or resignation can be sup
piled up to IA days before the
election. The Secretary Of State ls
required to furnish blank forms for
the nomination of candidates when
ever called on to do 60. All GER
tificates OF nominations and nom;-
nation papers are required to be
kept on file in the Office of the Secre-
tary Of State, aud all nominations
must be promulgated in the officia;
organ within twenty-four hours Of
their receipt by him.
It will be seen that the new Ia '
is very careful in the matter Of Domi-
nations. In the approaching cleo
ton there are SO few candidates to
be voted for-only Congressman
and presidential electors that it is
scarcely likely that there will be-
any confusion or mistake, but in a
general State election it is likely to
be different; that at least is the ex.
perience IT other States having \ |
similar law, for at every election
number Of candidates find them
selves ''left" BY their failure to
comply with the provisions Of the
law as to nominations. Louisiana
is fortunate, therefore, in trying
tie new law at an election where |
there is not such universal scram-
BILE for Office rs in our State fights.
The names OF all candidates
properly and legally nominated are
placed upon the official ballot,
which is prepared by the Secretary |
of State, at the expense Of the
State. These ballots will neces-
sarily be larger than those formerly |
in use, as they will contain the
names Of all the candidates, indie
pendent as well rs Democrats, Re-
publicans, Populists. The names
are arranged under the designation
Of the Office in alphabetical order,
except the presidential electors.
There is a margin on the right Of
each ballot, SO as 20 give the voter
q chance to designate by mark
his choice Of candidates. Opposite
each name is a white circle, like the
letter o. TO vote for that candi-
date the voter must obliterate The
white circle opposite his name with
the official stamp. Each voter as
he comes to the POLL receives his
official ballot. He then stamps it,
without aid or interference, stamp
ing opposite the names of those
candidates for whom he desires to
vote. II he spoils his ballot in
making it ont he is allowed to re-
ceive . second one by restoring it.
and even the shird, but no more.
He then folds the ballot 50 as to
leave the words official ballot on
the back visible, deposits it and
leaves the poll.
1t will be seen that this system
prevents any interference with the
voter It is simple enough TO q
voter of Or iinary intelligence, es-
pecially when there are SD few can
to be voted for ~ in the
coming election. Amy one who can
read can vote intelligen.ly, but
those who are .lliterate are placed
at great disadvantage. 1t has
been found possible in many of the
a. |