Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-06-29
9aily Eeautbet 3u,,rn,.l.
SUGGESTIONS.
Important For all Who Vote to Bear
in Mind.
Made by Secretary Of State Fessenden Relative
to Ballots and Nomination Papers.
State of Maine.
Office of
SnnNntn rSx nf GS,t

State of Maine.
Office of
Secretary of State,
StSSS Augllsta, June 20. 1896.
TO the fctiens officers. Election Clerks;
rNe following ssuggestions. which arc
more or less important in view of the 3:ip-
elections.
first:S The law governing the elections
for 1896 u precisely the same as it was in
1884, Therefore no ballot pamphlet will be
issued this year. Use the pamphlet Is
sued for 1894.
Second: Nomination certificates. prom
erly liked out and sworn to. and written
accepsapess ess-of: candidates must be filed
a,,. u nla 9csZor stats tss election by Au-
md sSsr stRkcation Ti,' thersd q ss sa'sns' by
Thir!s Signature nomins> papers.
properly fifed and sworn s8a kith ac-
eeptances. must,be filed by ssi!ife. date,
August :. 1886. These blanks Wffl. also be
furnished on application. Candidates and
committees must see to filing nomination
papers, certificates and acceptanceS.
CARDS. S~s
Fourth: Vacancies in nominations are
to, ,be filled as provided in section s, OF
political party committees should inAnGnl
themselyss i,,s: accurately Sas to tfeir 3
under the section.
mS:s %s'e as7sl 'E { jsSs ;sssse as
packages Of ballots with Sod. unbraksal
on the days Of election. Sees section Is.
and study it carefully. -
Sixth: Polling booths, at lest one for
equipped as an 1894. See that the. instruc-
ton cards are properly posted therein.
bash SG snd w YARD eis less than han 1a fee
& Seventh... AS tosmarking ballot. In all
1fases MARK one x in the square above
Fthe marty fame. DO this first. To vote
make no tother mark. Mark within the
square.
10 vote a split ticket. first mark the \
within the square-then in the column be
low such X erase any name or names.
and below SUCH erased name or names,
write in any name or names you choose.
However you vote-straight or split
party name. Use one column, and only
one.
Eighth: Mark the ballot while in the
got it. then put it into ballot box. with
official signature uppermost. No voter
can stay in booth over five minutes. No
voter can so inside guard rail more than
once.
Ninth: If voter, spoils one ballot, he
ond. he may have third, if he spois the
third he can have no more. 4 voter
vote at this election.
Tenth: Sorting and counting ballots
must be done in open meeting so that all
voters can see it. Voters cannot aid. as
sist or interfere, but may observe.
Eleventh.: All ballots must be pre-
served Ballots will classify themselves
and defective. All must be preserved and
sealed up. Check lists must he also pre-
served and sealed up.
Twelfth: Voters unable to read, OF
nh u IsI
lots may be assisted. Such voter must
call on the presiding election officer or
officers for such aid. Such officer or oili-
GERS twardens in cities. seectmen in
towns. assessors in plantations) will di-
rect two election clerks to assist. Ono
election clerk must be Il Republican. the
other Democrat.
Thirteenth: Election clerks must not
offer to assist, and must not assist unit
so directed. under penalty of fine aud dis
qualification.
In all cases where assistance is given.
the election clerks must certify the fact,
and that only on the ballot.
Fourteenth: Defective ballots. There,
ought not to be any. Two years ago
there were about five thousand in tho
State. From the best information OBJ
tainable' ] am convinced that by far tbs
greatest number of these were cast-not
by the illterate, but by the better in
formed voters. who thinking they knew
it all neglected to actually learn the cor
rect way The very simplicity Of the
of the amended law provides that IF fois|
any reason it is impossible to determine
the voters choice for an office, his ballot
shall not be counted for such office.
The question is for the counting ot1-
GERS. and must be determined from the
ballot and the marking thereon. 4
Fifteenth: Election clerks must be III
attendance upon the election from staril
to finish. Their appointment is governed
by section q. The election clerks of 1NHi
hold over. tunless they nave vacated
their office until their successors are APP
pointed and qualified. These clerks mustl
witness the counting. No election clerk
can be a candidate. no candidate can be
m election clerk. 4
Sixteenth: Election officers are war
dens in cities. sclectmcn and town clerk
in towns. assessors ANA plantation
clerks in plantations.
Scventeenth: Election clerks are clec-
tion clerks and ballot clerks. Whcrc |
only two election clerks are necessary.
Where four election clerks are ncces-
sary Gn each polling place in cities an"'I
towns of more than one thousand inhah- |
itantsl two of the four must be detailed
to Wserve us ballot clerks. Ballot clerks
have all the powers and duties of elet
tion clerks, and in addition have charge
OF the ballots. These clerks must be ap- |
pointed from the Republican and Demo
cratic parties only.
Clerks of wards. towns and plantations
should not act as election or ballot
clerks.
I.iehtecnth: To counting officers.
Count carefully. BE so exact that in mol
1t all desirable. BE SO accurate that the
court may not be called upon to do your
work over again.
NICHOLAS FEsSENDEN,