The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-07
THE BALLOT; !. MACHINE.
Its Successful Working in Rochester-An
Votes Registered With out Difficulty.
New YORK Post

ANoW UFk IObos
Rochester, November 3-The Myers
ballot machine. was tried on the largest
scale and put to the severest test yet at
tempted inlthis city today. On the whole
the result was very satisfactory. Here
tofore the machine has been used only In
small and unimportant town elections.
While, in these instances, it worked fair
ly well, it did not fulfill all the prophe-
oies that 1t had stimulated. But little
was made, however, of the shortoomin gs,
as they could, 1t was claimed by the In
ventor, be essily overcome by slight
improvements and greater familiarity of
voters with it's operation.
Nevertheless, there was considerable
apprehension before the arrival of cleo
tion day that the machine would not
vindicate it's claims. In the first place,
the Common Council was Induced to try
1t only at the last moment. Although
the contract to use it had been entered
into year ago, the company, for some
reasons failed to have 1t ready at the
time specified for deliverance. At first
the Common Council refused to abide
by the contract, the belief being that the
election day. Still the company kept at
work, and insisted that 1t could get the
seventy machines required in place by
Monday right. When ID was represented
that the company would probably have
to throw up it's business If the machine
was not used. the Common Council re-
considered its action
In the second place, there was the feel
ing that the machines, had baen so
hastily put together, and SO little time
had been given to voters to become
familiar with them, that serious trouble
was bound to ensue. But as the company
had become convinced that the test
would decide the fate of the machine, it
took extraordinary precautions against
failure. 1t sent illustrated circulars OF
explanation to every registered voter In
the city. To anticipate the posi- bility
that voters would not be bile to vote fast
enough to permit all registered to cast
their ballots, it had an extra machine set
up in some of the polling districts.
Finally. to guard against any unforeseen
defect, it had skilled mechanic in
every district.
These precautions had the effect of
reducing errors, mishaps, and delays TO
a minimum. There were, it is true,
quite a3number of them, and two of them
rather serious; but considering the
Disadvantages under which the machine
AhDOIo0 LII Uulo kIoaU to6us ~ ~ r6ll al Nd
BILE that more serious trouble was not
encountered. The chief difficulty was
not, ouriously, with the complicated
mechanism OF the machine, but with the
doors, especially the exit doors. In
numerous instances they would not
close readily after the exit of the voter.
They had to be closed by the polling
officer in charge. In one instance voter
found himself looked in the exit COM
partment. 1t was about twenty-five
minutes before he was set at liberty.
Most of the defects of this kind were
easily remedied, being due either to haste
in manufacture or to the sagging from
insecure foundations.
The most serious difficulty with the
voting machinery itself occurred IN the
First District of the Twentieth Ward.
Here it was discovered after forty six
voters had entered the machine that
only six ballots had been recorded.
About four hours was required to remedy
this defect. At one time it was feared
that the blanket ballot, which had been
printed and made ready for distribution
would have to be resorted to. But the
skilled mechanic on hand finally got the
machine to working again. ana the vot-
ing continued without further difficulty.
What the origin of the troub BILE was Is not
known. The belief Is, however, that
some voter, Ignorant of the use of the
mdouino, puhhnu ene Anops IN too nhro,
or else tried to pull them ont. A mum.
Der of instances of this kind of ignorance
were reported from different districts.
But in spite of the mishaps of all kinds
universal satisfaction is expressed with
the machines. Voters were surprised al
the ease and rapidity with which they
were able to make their political prefer
straight ticket, and had therefore to pusf
only one knob. met with no perplexity
whatever. They could march in ant
out at the rate of from two to four 8
minute. Those voters that voted split
ticket required little more time. They
had to push a knob for each candidate
they voted for. Still they voted with
surprising rapidity. Sometimes the votes
were at the average rate of two a minute.
But sixty and seventy votes an hour was
the average. Had the polling clerks
been able to verify names more rapidly,
the average would have been somewhat
higher. 1t was they AMI not the voters
that caused the most delay
= The fear that there would not bs time
enough In s1me of the larger districts tc
get In all the registered vote between six
in the morning, when the polls opened,
and five lat night, when they closed,
proved wholly groundless. More than
half of the vote of ths city was cast be.
fore noon. In the afternoon the voting
was slow and without interest. In the
morning many voters after casting theil
votes, stood round to see how "ths ma
chine worked" Often their discussion
and words tof approval made SO much
noise that the polling clerks and inspec
tors experienced much difficulty In hear
ing voters give their names.
But one Of the most satisfactory feat
ures Of the m aohine was the rapidity ant
eocuraoy with which 1t permitted the re-
suit of the election to be known. Within
twenty minutes after the closing of th,
polls the oompany's central Office was IL
possession OF the result of the voting fol
presidential and Rubernatorial candidate,
in all the districts except half Dozen
These were obtained by six O'Clock. BY
nine O'Clock the result of the election IL
all districts on all the candidates wal
known accurately.
Race at Rigby Postponed.