People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-10-28
The Revised Election Law.

Inc revised election law as adopted
applies TO all elections in the state
except 10 scnOol districts. A place on
the ballot cannot be secured by an
existing party il it casts less than 5
per cent Of the total vote at the next
previous election. Candidates or full
tickets may be placed on the ballot by
petition signed by $500 qualified
voters in state election. In counties
the number must not be less than %.
The tickets of the various political
parties shall be arranged on the
ballot in the order Of the numerical
of the parties at the last proceeding
election, the party having the highest
number OF votes getting first, the
next highest second place, and 81 on.
The provision for publication Of
ballots in newspapers has been dropped
out entirely. This will result in
substantial saving, as this item Of
expense has been very great in mary
counties. A maximum rate to
to be charged for the printing Of the
ballots is fixed. 1t is SO pee thousand
il there are not more UGau four tickets
Un the ballot. An extra Sl.50 Ler
thousand Is allowed Tor each add
tiOnal ticket. This tate applies "
state elections, but in tile odd years
when nothing out county and town
ship officers are " be elected che
price shall be S. per Thousand OdllOLS
containing not more than four tickets,
aud 81 per thousand extra for each
additional ticket. Sufficient ballots
snail be printed 10 provide 10 Tor each
% votes cast al the previous election
and enough Tor duplicate supply To
be used IN case ballots are desl r0yed
or become exhausted. Sample ballots
shall be printed on some color OF
paper other than white, while tile
ballot to be voted shall be printed Uu
wnlte paper. The old law provides
for the printing Of about four or five
times as many ballots as are used,
but it will be noted That great say
ing is made ia this respect. The job
printers have been privileged to
charge whatever they could get the
commissioners TO pay for printing
ballots, but the new rate secures
cheap service in tins respect.
The firm Of The ballot is changed
considerably. Instead Of blank
space under each candidates name on
which The name of anyone for whom
the voter may desire " vote may De
written, one full b ank ticket is placed
at the right of the ballot. This 70.
duces the size of the ballot almost
One-half. The squares are changed
and placed to the right OF the candl-
dates name Instead OF u the left. A
line Is placed between the tickets 10
order TO separate them in such way
as to enable any voter TO readily see
which line Of squares are intended 10
be marked 10 vote the ticket he may
desire to vote. Not more than Two
Judges ard one clerk shall belong To
the same political party. One judge
and one clerk are to be first selected
from the party casting the highest
vote at the next preceding election,
a Judge AID clerk from the party
casting the next highest number, and
the remaining Judge from any party
not Included il the above. Little
change is made in the arrangement OF
booths, but it is provided that there
must be one for each 60 voters.
In order to prevent the practice OF
the "eDdless chain" system OF cOrrup-
tiOn and fraud, a new plan is devised
When a voter enters the polling
place his name is entered on the list
opposite number as is NV the case,
When ballot is given him. his num-
Der on the pOll-bOok is written in one
corner OF the ballot When the ballot
is returned by the voter N be deposit
Nd in the box, the judge receiving il
aScertains whether its number is the
same as the enc opposite that voter:
I name, and if such is the case, he clips
the corner containing the number of
and the ballot is deposited. This does
not interfere with a secret ballot, and
it would seem that it would efiectu
allv prevent the use OF the "endleSs
chain" scheme. Voters requiring as
sistance shall he accompanied tn the
booth by two judges Of different par
ties. Intox'raIiOn snail not cOnstl
tutp a disability, and voters in that
condition are not entitled TO and shall
not receive assistance.
At present judges in precincts cast
ing 700 votes are paid the same q:
Judges in precincts having but twenty
votes. The new law provides that
Judges shall receive s. for the first 25C
ballots counted and 81 for each extra
10 or major fraction thereof In city
nlpctirnS the nay shall he e.. so for the
first $50 ballots and 50 cents for each
: extra 100
This law is regarded as a good one
II cOntairS manv minor provisions
which will interest people; and In
order that voters may have an oDpOr
tunitv to become acquainted with il
hafOrp election time. it Is provided
that 10000 copies shall he printed and
distributed. These copies will bf
ready for distribution SION. The
sewing effected nv this hill amounts
% "a high as $1,000 in some counties
II will also result in more fair and
!; honest elect inns.