The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-30
A NEW VOTING MACHINE.
Description of the One Devised by
Il. ii. cummings.

E.. B. Cummings, of this city. has in
vented a voting machine in accord with
the provisions OF the Australian system
1t is not large n the mechanism is COM
pact. A machine that will contain two full
tickets and a place for independent votes
for a city election In Indianapolis is not
more than eighteen inches long by twelve
inches wide. OF course this does not in
clude the platform for the voter TO stand
upon, but is merely the vote counting and
registering machine. The machine can be
made to vote any number of tickets. The
process Of voting is very simple. Each tick
ct forms a row down the machine and all
candidates for one office are on a line
across the machine When a voter steps
on TO the platform the mechanism of the
machine is released so he can vote. If he
desires to vote a straight ticket he mere
ly pulls a lever at the head of the ticket
of his choice and the whole ticket is voted,
the counting apparatus adding one to the
number already registered opposite the
name of each candidate on that ticket. The
machine is then locked and no more voters
can be registered until the voter steps Off
the PLATFORM, but as the platform is to
be in full view Of the judges, while the
machine itself will be higher and hidden
by a curtain, no voter can step back on
the platform without being detected. Then
in plain view at all times is the register
showing the number of times the platform
has been operated, which, of course, is the
number of voters who have used the ma
chine. If a man desires TO vote a mixed
ticket, he does not touch the lever at the
top OF the machine. but presses a button
opposite the name of each candidate for
whom he wants to vote. When he presses
one button. say for Governor. the buttons
for all other candidates for that Office be-
come locked automatically and no more votes
can be cast for Governor. The same is true
when a man votes a straight ticket-all
buttons become locked as soon as he pulls
the lever. Then aside from this there is
provision for independent voting. which.
however, would not be applicable in this
State under the present system, but it
would be necessary in New York. where a
voter has a right to cast his vote for any
person. There is one row of buttons which.
when pushed open little slots into which
a ticket may be placed. but by a peculiar
arrangement no more than one ticket can
be put into a slot until it has been closed
and reopened. In that way if q man desires
TO vote for some one whose name is not
on any ticket, he can vote his mixed ticket
ignated FOR the particular office and in
sert a small card, thus casting his vote
for a man not on any ticket.
There is another feature Of the machine
which probably had been overlooked by
all other makers of similar machines. For
instance. In a city election here a voter has
a right to vote for any six of the candi-
dates for councilman at large. He might
desire TO vote for two men whose names
were on the same line across, but when one
button on a line is pressed all others on
that line are locked. BY a peculiar appa-
ratus the man can vote the straight ticket
down. TO councilman at large by simply
pressing a button at the side of the ma
chine before pulling the straight-ticket
lever. He can then vote for any six of the
names left, even though they may be ON
the same line on the machine, but he can
not vote for one more than once. nor can
he press another button after six have been
used. This part of the mechanism can be
| thrown ont of gear anfiFalN xNhn, +l- ~.
cumstances do not make il necessary To
use 1t and this part of the machine then
works the same as the other part.
There is still one more button that PLAYS
an important part. 1t is for use where
there is a yes" and no vote. This but
ton is to be used where there is to be a
vote on a constitutional amendment. or
any question which would be separated
from the political issues of the day. A man
could then vote his straight ticket and this
button is leftPyet to be voted. All the rest
of the machine would be locked after vot-
ing the straight ticket, but the voter could
then vote yes or no according to his
desire.