The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-23
. CORRECT BALLOT SYSTEM.

Tho second section of Article III. oil tho
Constitution OF Virginia provides that d"
elections shall be by ballot The TWEEN
,v-second section of Article '. PROVIDES
Cha. "thc manner of conducting ana max
ing returns Of elections sn"n NC
,rescribed by law" II there are any oth-
ar provisions as 10 the manner OF con-
auo,,,c elections in the Constitution We
are not aware Of them.
The method OF voting By ba'ot nus
been as much the subject Of evolution as
my other feature of modern government
,naeed 50 many objections rave been
raised to voting by ballot at all that there
are today many vehement "oNooa'eS u
the viva voce system. We thinN now
ever. that for many reasons easily meh-
,ionea the ,allot has comc 10 stay. Inc
question Is. What IS tho best meIhod OF
ascer,a,ning the unterriii'd and uncor-
,unted sentiment OF the vo'cif
Much has been justly said about the
neryersion Of the ballot-boA ana false
returns by corrupt judges. but The great
est menace, in our opinion. 10 tTes IN
stitutions is not so mucn corrupt Judges
of election as corrupted voters. As long
as the voter maintains his integrity there
A. little cause for fear that no VIII Tor
any length OF time he misrepresehted py
corrupt judges Of election, but l. the
voter becomes corrupted, the integrity OF
the Judges is not suitvient TO meet the
breach in our institutions. We think,
therefore. that any system Of election by
ballot or otherwise which does not Ie-
move the voter, as thoroughly as posi-
BE. from tho communicating influence OF
bribery. Is ineffective and futile; while
any system that in every respect IS iair
ana just. ana fills the requirement OF the
Constitution. and as nearly as may De
protects the voter in the free and undis-
turbed exercise Of his suffrage. is most
eommendable. even though there are pos
sible objections arising from intrinsic DIFF
faculties OF its administration.
Experience has shown that the old
method OF voting by ballots handed TO the
voter by party ticket-holders at the polls,
and by him handed to the judge, was the
occasion OF much confusion and disorder,
practically destroyed the secrecy Of the
ballot and gave opportunities for bribery,
which In some parts OF this state was
freely used. The adoption by the Legis-
lature al the last session in the Wal
ton law OF the booth system. with the
Official ballot insured a peace and good
order at the polls which rhe people OF ln's
State having once enjoyed. will never
be willing to give up. The Walton ballot
itself was not satisfactory, as 1t was
capable OF such alterations as 10 make i,
indispensable that the illitcrate voter
should consult the official called the
constable who was directed TO 20 int,
the booth with the voter and there pre-.
pare his ballot for him, thus destroying
the secrecy Of the ballot and providing
the means whereby a corrupt constable
would have the opportunity not only tt
bride the voter. but TO see that his vote
was prepared according 10 the agreement
Serious constitutional objections have
been raised 10 this violation OF the eS'
sentjal characteristic Of the ballot. tho
very foundation of which Is secrecy. \
plan has, therefore. been adopted else.
where which provides for Il ballot tina
will on its face have emblems 10 indi
cate to tho illiterate voter the candidatr'
- tho party with which he wishes TO cas-