The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-02-06
THE VOTING MACHINES AGAIN.

The Legislature is now wrestling with |
the ballot machine problem, and con-
corning it there are half a dozen or
particular machine for use throughout
the State. Others describe qualities
and operations that would apply to but
one or two machines; still others
would delegate to counties the choos-
ing of machines for themselves, and at
tempt to designate regulation therefor.
But here comes the difficulty; it is
held that no general bill can lay down
these regulations SO as TO apply to all
or a large number of machines; also,
that the Legislature cannot delegate
system of voting. If these contentious
are we'll taken, then it follows that
the general law to be adopted should
name one, two or three machines, either
of which may be purchased or rented
by counties. For the use of each ma
chine the law should then lay down
the separate and essential regulations.
This may be done, probably. 1t is I'M
derstood that this legal problem is now
under consideration by the law officer
of the State.
1t is gratifying to believe that the
disposition of the Legislature is to car
ny into effect the amendment and pro-
vide for the use of machines for voting.
AS the Record Union" has already
said il is not bound by judgment to any
named machine, though it has positive
opinions as to the merits of all shown
at the Capitol. It is free to say this,
however, that the ideal machine ought
to be, and will be, self-registering, TO
the extent that it will show the total
of the vote as the voting progresses,
and at the end of the polling will give,
practically instantly, the total votes
cast for each candidate, thus enabling
the result of an election to be known
almost simultaneously with the closing
of the polls.
If there is no such machine before
the Legislature now it had better put
over the matter two years, for beyond
all question that ideal will be attained
by inventive genius. Counting ma
chimes and computators are already in
existence in great number; presses and
engines and motors have them already
in variety, and they register accurately.
The principal involved in those cases
can be applied to a voting machine.
We can conceive, and with some de-
tail of just how that application can
be made Any machine that requires
separate counting of the votes as re-
corded by it, in our opinion, is de-
fective and falls below the level Of re-
quirement.
All separate counting opens the door
to fraud and recounts, and all that.
l. is the difficulty with the present sys-
tenn that the ballots are capable of ma
nipulation. Hence we do not like the
idea either of perforation or marking
devices for each vote and which all
involve separate counting, some by a
secondary and some on the original
machine This is said, not against or
for any machine shown, but in the in
terest of clean politics, and the sanctity
of the ballot For we affirm that it is
possible, indeed that 1t it is not diff
cult, to produce a machine that will do
its own counting, and that. too, be-
yond the probable risk of error. But
such a machine must also be incapable
of manipulation whereby the record of
any particular vote can be ascertained
or changed.
The self-counter ought to do this. 1t
ought to record the vote in distinct and
unstamped figures that go to make up
the total, and yet, so to speak, render
change of that record absolutely i'm
possible To make this meaning clear,
| let us suppose the counter on the Rec
| ord Union" lightning press-Which will
accurately count up to - 900 revolu-
| tons an hour, and show each revolu-
| ton by a distinct figure-suppose these
revolutions to stand each for the act
of voting by an elector When the act
| is performed by one the record is made
and carried into the total But when
the next voter comes along and an
! Other revolution is made the last rec
ord is obliterated by the revolution OF
! the counter, and is thus carried into
| the new total. This is applicable tC
voting machines, and eventually viii
be made essential in them all, if it has
not been applied already in some ma
chimes. However, there are machines
that have separate counting devices
that possibly may be incapable of dis
honest manipulation, and that do nos
occasion delay. The thing for the Leg
islature to do is to frame a law, if i
is held by the Attorney General to b.
within legislative power, under which
several machines may be named, witt
statutory regulations for each: that j:
10 say, directions for use of each ma
chine.
We have faith that the best machine:
under such a law will make their way
and those machines will be, we venture
the forecast. the self-registering ones
those that record a vote. and with tn
next vote extinguish the record an(