Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-08-04
The BALLOT LAW.
sUGGl sTIONs To VOTERS AND ELEC-
TON OFFICERS.

giyin1 suggestions In view OF the APP
preaching election. At the last election
there Iere large number OF defective
balloit, most OF which appear 10 have
been $50, not because the voters were
iguorlnt, but because they had neglect
ed 10 Inform themselves IA To the simple
method OF voting. II would be well 20
take Tote Of the suggestions In the cir
cularla number of which are given be-
low
/. The law governing the elections
for lsIj l. precisely the same a. IL was In
1894 /; therefore no ballot pamphlet will
be isst bed this year. Use the pamphlet
Issued for 1894.
,. Nomination certificates, properly
tillcd but and sworn to, and written &C
ccptaj Ices 81 candidates must be- filed In
this O1ice---for state election by August
:, lS9l.
}. Signature nomination papers,
prOpetlv filled and sworn 10, with ac
cepia ices, must be- filed by the same
date, Nugust ;, 1896.
1. | Vacancies In nominations are 10
be filled as provided In Section ;, Of
Amended law. Convention officers and
political party Committees should in
form themselves accurately rs 10 their
Quilted under this section.
). City, town and plantation clerks
must lcliver 10 the election officers, the
packages OF ballots with seals unbroken.
on thJ day OF election. See Section Is,
and Study il carefully.
.. Polling booths, at least one for
every hundred voters must be provided,
1 equipped a. In 1894. See that the In
strucilon Cards are properly posted
| therein. No town can have less than
three booths, and no city ward less than
five.
:. As TO marking ballot. In all
cases mark one y In the square above
the p ftY name. DO this first. To vote
a strsI ght ticket, mark this one y and
make b. ofhsr mark. Mark within the
| squarj. To vote split ticket, first mark
the y within the square-then In the
| columt below such y erase any name or
namesl and below such erased name or
named write In any name or names you
choosJ. However YOU vOte-straight or
split mark the y within the square
aboye party name. Sc one column,
and OILY one.
! :. Mark the ballot while In the
booth then fold 1t so il will be as you
got Il, then put IL into ballot box, with
oflicia signature uppermOst. No voter
can stly Ia booth over live minutes. No
voter IAN 90 inside guard rail more than
once.
@. II voter spells one ballot, he may
have Al second, IL he spoils the second, he
may hive third, II he spells the third
he can have no more. A voter spelling
three ballots loses his right 10 vote AT
this Ell (ction.
TO- Sorting and counting ballots must
be dote In open meeting, so that all
voters can see IL. Voters cannot aid,
assist lr interfere, but may observe.
IL. All ballots must BE- preserved
Ballot will classify themselves into
used, lnused, cancelled or spoiled, and
defecufe. All must be preserved and
sealed up. Check lists must be also
prescribed aud sealed up.
II. Voters unable 10 read, or physl-
cally disqualified from marking ballots
may bd assisted. Such voter must call
on the presiding election officer or off
GERS fot such aid. Such officer or off
GERS vi rdens in cities, selectmen In
towns, assessors in plantations) will
direct Ie0 election clerks 10 assist. one
electioll clerk must be Republican, h
other al Democrat.
-. Election clerks must not offer 10
assist, Ind must not assist until 30 d.
tected lnder penalty Of fine and disqua
iicatiori In all cases where assistance
L. Il IA. a.. IL IL
the facil and that only on the ballot.
IL. defective ballots. There ought
not 10 ~ any. Two years ago there
were a. bout five thousand in the state.
FROM ne best Information obtAinable |
am conIinced that by far the greatest
numtcrl of these were cist-aot by the
iliiteratf, but by the better Informed
voters. who thinking they knew IL all
neglected. 10 actually learn the correct
way. I1he very simplicity II tie method
deceived the careless. Section q of the
amended law provides that ''if for any
reason i j. impossible 10 determine the
voters lchoice for an office, his ballot
shall ntt be counted for such office.
This QUESTION Is for the counting officers,
and muit be determined from the ballot
and the marking thereon.
Il. Election Clerks must be in at
tendancI upon the election from start TO
finish. Their appointment is governed
by Sectibn II. The Election Clerks OF
1894 holt over, unless they have vacated
their ofife) until their successors are
appoint,ld and qualified. These clerks
must tbess the counting. No election
clerk cad be candidate, no candidate
can be ih election clerk.
10. Election Officers are Wardens In
cities, selectmen and Town clerks In
towns, assessors and Plantation clerks
in plant lions.
Il. Election clerks are election clerks |
and ballot clerks. Where only two
election clerks are necessary, such clerks |
are also ballot clerks. Where four
election lclerks are necessary Gin each |
polling lllace in cities and towns Of more |
than oneI thousand inhabitants) two of |
the four must be detailed TO serve as
ballot clerks. Ballot clerks have all the |
powers and duties of election clerks, and |
In addition have charge Of the ballots.
These clerks must be appointed from |
the Republican and Democratic parties |
only. Clerks Of wards, towns and plan
tations should not act as election or |
ballot clefks.
Is. I'd counting officers. Count
BE so exact that In no event |
can re- 3ount be even limited at as at /
all desirlble. Be so accurate that the |
,nnrt r.aI ,at ha oa Hold upon N do ronr