The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-15
NEW ELECTION LAW.
Bill to Break the Force of Fusions
and Correct Ofber Er,

nTe"k the rOrce of FusiOns
and Correct other Evils.
representative Thomas yesterday intro
duced the election bill prepared by the r.
puphcan State committee. 1t is designed
10 prevent fusion parties from getting the
cement OF their fusion by having the names
or the fusion candidates printed under two
or three devices on the same ballot. It
also amends the election law by putting the
Republican ticket in the first column and
making a few minor changes in the meth
ods OF counting, chief of which is that ii
gives to any party nominating a ticket the
privilege of having two watchers at the
polls. The bill amends various sections Of
the eiection law SO as to make them read
as follows: ~
Section 2-If any certificate or petition of
nomination snail contain the name of more
IMAM one candidate for any office to be
hIled, neither name shall be printed as a
candidate for such office. If any persons
shaIi JOIN In nominating by petition more
than one nominee for any Office 10 be filled
such person shall not be counted as q pe-
tltloner for either nomination. If any per-
son has been nominated as a candidate for
any once by convention, and, also, as a
candidate for the same office by petition.
his name shall be placed on the ballot but
once, TO wit: In the list of candidates nom
mated by such conventions; and the place
occupied by his name in such petition Shall
De left blank; provided, that If such can
9ldate shall, in writing, prior TO the last
DAY Tor ming nominations, request that his
name be printed as nominated by petition.
IL shall be so printed, and shall be omitted
from the list nominated by the conven-
tion. Provided, further, that In no case
shall the name of the same person appear
upon any ballot more than once.
Section L Board of Election Commits
sioners shall cause the names of all candi-
dates or their representative jurisdictions
10 be printed on one ballot, all nomina-
tlons OF any part or group of petitioners be.
ing placed under the title and device of
such party or petitioners as designated by
them in their certificates or petition, or IL
none be designated. under some suita ole
title and device. The ballots shall be of uni
form size, and of the same quality and
color OF paper, and sufficiently thick that
the printing cannot be distinguished from
the back. All ballots prepared by the State
Board of Election Commissioners shall be
printed on red tinted paper, and be put in
blocks Of one hundred each. All ballots
prepare by the county boards of election
commissioners shall be printed on white
paper. II the same device for designating
candidates be selected by two parties or
groups OF petitioners. IL shall be given to
the one who first selected II. and a suit
able device shall be selected for the other.
The device named and the list of candidates
of the Republican party shall be placed i'm
the first column on the left hand side of
the ballot: of the Democratic party in the
second column; of the Prohibition party
in the third column; and of any other party
i'm such order as the Board of Election
Commissioners shall devise.
The device of each party shall be Endorsed
in a square of not less than one and one
half inches on each side. and shall he
placed at the head of the list of candi-
dates for each party. Immediately under
1t shall be placed the name or title of the
party ticket. and Immediately under the
name or title a list of the candidates of the
party, such names being placed three
fourths of one inch apart from center to
center of the name. The name of each
candidate having Immediately on its left a
square three-eighths of an inch on each
~fIa ap1 tho Oonnrnl ARA Uanant of tho
ballot shall conform as nearly as possible
TO the following: (Here follows the ar
rangement of the tickets on the ballot, the
Republicans having the first position)
Section SWhen a vote shall have been
passed by the ch~allengers, or shall have
been sworn in, he shall be admitted TO the
election room; provided, however. hat no
more than four voters shall be allowed in
the room at one time On entering the
room the voter shall announce his name to
the poll clerk, who shall register IL. The
clerk holding the ballots shall deliver TO
him one state and one local ballot. and the
other clerk shall thereupon deliver 10 him
a stamp. and both poll clerks. IN request.
shah give explanation of the manner OF
voting; If necessary, by unanimous consent
of the board. an interpreter may be called.
The voter shall then and without leaving
the room. go alone into any OF the booths
which may be unoccupied ard indicate the
candidates for whom he desires TO vote by
stamping the square Immediately proceed
ing his name. and Indicate his preference
On any question of constitutional amend
ments or other special matter by stamp
ing IN front OF the words Yes or NO"
under such questions: provided. however.
that if he shall desire to vote for all can
didates OF any party or group OF petition
ers. he may place the stamp on the large
square inclosing the device and preceding
the title under which the candidates of
such party or group or petitioners are
printed, and the vote shall then be counted
for all the candidates under that title. III
the voter stamps the large square inclos-
ing the devices. he shall not stamp else
where on the ballot unless there be no
candidate or sane office on the list printed
under such stamped device. In which case
he may Indicate his choice for such office
by stamping the square TO the left OF the
rame OF any candidate for such office on
any other list. \ stamp or the ballot I'm
violation OF this provision shall be treated
as a distinguishing mark. If a stamp
touches a square IL shall be counted as on
! the square. but II the stamp touches no