The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-17

SEATTLE. "WEDNESDAY, FEB. IT.
AMENDING THE BALLOT LAWS.

There are measures pezdinz IN several
% tia state legislatures 20 amend the
Australian ballot laws. and II II somewhat
surprising 20 discover ths radical e!fssE-
snees OF oplnion which exist on this sub
3ect In Massachusetts,. for example. the
existing Law requires the siectoY 70 mark
on his ballot the name OF every candidate
for whom ha desires % vote. There are no
provisions for yetinE a straight ticket Dy
making one mark. Indicating the intention
OF the voter. There Is pending a propo-
sitlon In the Massachusetts, legislature 20
amend the las In this particular. and per
NIT Of fali straight ticket being voted
by placing cross after the party name at
the head Of the ballot. This proposition
has brought out a strong and decided pro-
test from many quarters. some OF the
arguments advanced seem singular to peo-
pc Ia communities where the proposed
system IL now In force. For example. Il
81 claimed that the measure Ia brought for
ward in the interest OF machine politicians.
and is designed TO destroy the secrecy OF
the ballot. The opponents Of the amend
ment assert that watch can be kept upon
the electors In the various booths. and the
length OF time which Is occupied by each
IN marking the ballot would afford an In
dication a. TO whether straight ticket
had been voted or whether scratching had
been done.
Again. IL f. claimed that instead of max
ing the work Of voting easier. II ought 10
be made more difficuli: that II IL not the
part of sound public policy 10 make law
by which a person who lacks intelligence
sufficient to properly marx a ballot may
have tho task made easier for him. II is
quite likely that the opposition developed
may prove strong enough TO defeat the
proposed amendment OF the Massachusetts
ballot law
Precisely ia the opposite direction are
the amendments offered In tho Iowa iegis-
sature 90 the ballot law OF that state.
These amendments have been prepared by
the Iowa code commissioners. with the
object OF giving the statute clearer ex-
preston. The most suggestive of the
changes made In the wording is the fol-
lowing substitute for one section OF the
existing Law: mo ballot properly marked
by the voter shan be rejected because OF
any discrepancy between the printed bali
lot and the nomination paper. and II shall
be counted for the candidate or candidates
for such Offices named In the nomination
paper"
The object sought 20 bs accomplished BY
this amendment Is self evident An elec-
tor IL not called upon to scrutiaixe HIS bal
bot closely 10 discover whether the names
OF the candidates for WON he desires 10
vote are correctly spelled. Al he Is called
upon 10 do 10 10 marx bis vote 6y a cross
opposite the party name, and It carries a
straight vote for al the nominees OF that
party. whether error hiss been made in the
printing OF the ballot or not The oortia-
cate Of nomination. not the official ballot
itself. IL the criterion BY which to Judge
the Intent Of the eleotos.
IL IL al Interesting question. over which
there Is possibility OF 50 endless amount OF
discussion as 70 which is the better line Of
policy 10 pursue n dealing with ballot ~
form; whether to mako TIE form % ballot
so Simple and the requirements ef the
electors 50 slight that oaly phenomenal
ignorance would excuse the failure OF an
eiecsor 90 properly mark his ballot, so that
his intent can unnlistakAey - gathered.
or whether # Is better 20 50 arrange the
ballot that the slector Is necessarily COM
PEELED to exercise discriminating intcli-
ssnce ip marking his ballot.
The Massschosetts Idea ga the subject Is
In accordance vita che general policy OF
the state On tie subject of the auzildca-
tlons Of electors. There Is IN that state
ar ssaeStonA, test foE al electors PROB
aRiy no more satisfactory test e the kina
caala - found than IS prov its4 IN the BAL
act itself TO properly marx Massa-
ehasetts ballot ea6sr the existing law.
requires q TIRE s,ecfoF nos eusy the ability
&c read. bat alse know.ssiks ca his part
et the names of tNs aesnisees ~ sic parry
for whisa ne desires 20 vsss. u Is doubt
fai whistler a person c&a inse.likerJ.y ex.
erciss ths elective franchise who 10 tack
lnE n either - these qualifications