The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-03
cuAPrER 2aR-H. ID. 40. 79s.

AN ACT to enable counties towns, cities
and villages of this state to use auto
matte ballot (voting) machines at all
elections therein.
Be il enacted by the Legislature Oh the
State of Minnesota:
Section l. The board of county com
missioners Of any county within TINS
state may, at any regular or special
meeting called for that purpose, PROVIDE
for the use of automatic ballot machines
in such counties at all general elections
held therein and it shall be lawful for
the common council of any city, or the
board of trustees OF any incorporated
village within this state by tWo-th1rds
t23) vote to determine upon the use or
automatic ballot machines at all general
elections to be held within such city or
incorporated village; and thereupon such
ballot machine shall be used for the pur-
pose of voting for all public officers, to
Be elected by the voters OF such county,
city or village, or any part thereof, and
upon all constitutional amendments or
propositions or questions which may law
fully be submitted to such voters, and for
registering and counting the ballots cast
at such elections.
But nothing in this act contained shall
be construed as compelling the use of
any ballot machines at any elections of
school officers in any city or village, at
which no other public officer is to be
Provided, however, that no automatic
ballot machine shall be adopted or
used within this state, at any election held
officer, unless such ballot machine is so
constructed and operated as to insure the
absolute secrecy of each voters ballot
and provided with mechanism which will
automatically keep an accurate numerical
register and count of all the votes cast
at any election wherein such machine
may be used. and which will also conceal
and keep from view the number of votes
cast for any and all candidates balloted
for from the opening of the polls to the
closing thereof.
In
corporated village within this state shall,
through its proper officers determine
upon the use of any such ballot machines,
TO be used at any general election occur
ring therein before the time of holding
the session of the legislature of this
state next succeeding. viz, in the year
nine $500. it shall be the duty of
the chairman or presiding officer of said
board of county commissioners common
council or village trustees to call meet
Ing of such boards or common council
not less than ninety 900 days preceding
such election. for the purpose of prescrib-
ing and making, and it shall be the
duty of such boards or common council
to prescribe, make and publish, at the
same time and in the same manner as
under the existing laws election notices
are published, suitable rules and regula-
tons for the use of such automatic ballot
machines for any general election held
between the date of this act and the first
day of January, A. D. eighteen hundred
y
regulations so prescribed by said boards
or common council shall be Submitted
TO and approved by the attorney general
of this state before they are published
and carried into effect.
Sec. 3. No ballot clerks shall be en-
ployed in any county. city or village cleo
ton district wherein automatic voting
machines are used at any election; and
no more than three (3) judges of election
shall be appointed or employed for a
compensation. in any town. village or
city precinct wherein such ballot ma
chimes are used at any election, and no
lied to act in any capacity as election
officers in such election precinct.
Sec. 4. All election officers are hereby
charged with the prooer carving ont of
the necessary regulations prescribed for
the use Of any automatic ballot machines
provided in their respective town. villa ee
or city precinct
Sec ;. All laws and parts of laws now
10 state county. CITY and village eIections
and defining the powers and duties nj
election officers so far as applicable IN
the use Of automatic voting machines
shall remain in full force and effect. and
nothing in this act contained shall be
construed IS repea1ing anv existing law
or authorizing any deviation or omission
there1rom. exoent as expressly provided
Sec. 6. Any violation of the provisions
Of this act or any willfu1 attampt to in
jure or render ineffectua1 pnv such auto
matte halo machine. provided in accord
anoe with the provisions of This act
srall he doomed a nnisdeme anor
Sec. Z. This act shall take effect and
be in force from and after it's passage.
Approved April 3d. 1897.
CHAPTER 18Th E. NO. 4O4
AN ACT for the relief of Henry Dillerv
and to appropriate money therefor
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the