Middletown transcript., 1896-10-31
HOW TO MARK A BALLOT.


HOW TO MARK A BALLOT.
The "Morning News" gives the in
structions below in reference to mark
ing ballots. The safest plan is to vote
the straight ticket-the Republican
ticket with the eagle-but those desir-
ing to vote for one or more candidates
on another ticket should read these in
structions:
Those voters who have any misgiv-
ings concerning the process Of voting
should inform themselves at once as to
the plan to be followed in order to en-
sure the counting of their ballots.
There are four kinds of tickets de-
scribed by the Election Department,
and they cover any combinations which
the voters may wish to make.
The Straight Ticket, or the ticket
which is to be voted for entire, is
merely stamped at the top and along
side of the emblem. Thus, in order to
vote the Republican ticket entire the
voter has merely to place his mark,
with the rubber stamp furnished by
the election officers, alongside of the
picture of the Eagle.
The second ticket is the Cut Ticket.
This is ticket from which the names
of one or more candidates are erased.
This is done by simple drawing pen
through the names for which the voter
does not wish to record his preference,
AS with the first ticket, the stamp
mark is placed alongside the emblem.
The third ticket is known as the
Mixed Ticket. In order to vote this
the voter first stamps the ballot along
side of the emblem heading the ticket |
containing majority of the names for |
which he wishes to vote. He crosses
off the names of the persons for whom |
he does not wish 10 vote, then he places
a mark. with the rubber stamp, along |
side and to the left Of the names of /
those persons on some other ticket for
whom he wishes to vote in preference
to those stricken off, but they must be
for the same offices. Thus, if a man
wishes to vote for all of the Democrat
ic candidates with the exception of Mr..
L. Irving Handy he puts an ink mark
through Mr.. Handy's name and then
places mark before the name Of Mr..
Robert G. Houston Oh the Republican
ticket.
The fourth arrangement is known
as the Substitute Ticket. This is done
by stamping the ticket alongside of the
emblem to begin with. Then, say that
the voter does not want to vote for Mr..
Handy for Congress and is not satisfied |
with any other Candidate for Congress.
but wishes to vote for some one whose
name is not to be found anywhere on
The ballot. He simply grasses Mr..
name and writes over it the
name of John Smith," or any other
person for whom he wishes to vote.
These are the four combinations.
and the method is perfectly simple if
'he voter looks into the matter care
July. When tile ballot is folded be.
ore being returned to the election Of
icers it must be folded 50 that the in
tials of the election clerks, which are
upon every ballet in one cor
Ter, can be seen. That is, when the
,allot is folded the initials must be on
he outside. IL uatters not how the :
old is made SO that the initials are
7isible. 4
Any ballot that is mHtilated or i'm b
erfectly or improperly marked is
brown out. That is the danger of at 3
empting to cut, substitute or mix a
icket. The safest plan is to vote the
traight ticket. by placing the stamp = =
longside Of the Eagle. +
On the six tickets that will appear "
n the official ballot it will be found Il
nat the names Of the same men an a
ear, in some instances, twice or three ii
mes for the same office, but under n
ifferent headings. This fact. how 81
yer, does not give voter the right to v
ote twice for the same man for the
'me office. For instance, If voter
ishes to vote for Mr.. John P. Dona- re
%, one of the regular Democratic p
lndidates for member Of the Consti- " "
ltional convention. he can do SO only n
ice. BE cannot erase tbe name Of at
r. Thomas Toy, another candidate
r delegate on the Democratic ticket. sy
ID then stamp the name OF Mr.. Dona- tic
e, which also appears on the Honest te
oney Democratic ticket. \.
The voter cannot vote for the same :, {,
y twice. Bear this fact il mind. s.