The news & observer., 1897-02-20
Some Important Changes in it
Have Been Proposed.
BY THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE
ELECTION BOARD TO BE CHOSEN
BY THE LEGISLATURE.
A LONGER TIME TO REGISTER
Persons Who Challenge Voters Must
Make Affidavit Setting Forth
the Charges and Pay %
Gents Cost.

Our immaculate election law, which
was passed by the last Legislature and
labeled "An act to restore local self gov
eminent to the people" has proved some
what of a failure 1t has lived up to the
expectations of neither its friends nor its
enemies. Its fond parents have been
distressed to death over its short COM
ings and eITUtic conduct They have
found that lit is as full of flaws as fish
net is of holes, and its principal mission
on earth seems to be TO furnish fat fees
for lean lawyers. Besides, under it the
ballot has not been free" enough-to
say nothing Of the count For instance
there are several impediments in the way
of convicts and colomized negroes who
might try to register and vote.
SO they have set themselves to the
task of altering it. This is being done
by special committee. appointed for
this special purpose. This committee
has been at work several days and here
are the principal changes proposed:
/. To elect by the Legislature three
Commissioners of Election to perform
all the duties that the chairmen of the
political parties do under the law now
in opera tiOn. In case of death or resig-
nation the vacancy is to be filed by the
Governor, the Lieutenant Governor and
the SECRETARY of State, who are required
to appoint some one of the same pOl1ticai
faith as was the person whose place is
to he filled. This Board of Election
Commissioners is to be composed of one
member of each political party-Demo-
crat, Republican and Populist.
This amendment to the law will be re-
ported unfavorably, but the Republicans
are confident of their ability to pass it
by applying the party lash. Both the
Democrats and PopuEsts on the commit
tee yo cd against it.
. T. require each political party to
file w1tb the Secretary Of State. with or
without n device, the ticket to beu sed.
together with the names of all to he voted
for on that ticket; and with the clerk
OF court the county ticket, with or with
out device, and the names to be voted
for on that ticket. 1t is made a misde-
meanor for any one to print or circulate
any tickets other than those deposited
with the Secretary of State and clerk
Of court. This is not to be construed
to prevent scratching or the use of stick
ers, hut to prevent the printing of Re-
publican tickets with the name of one or
more Democrats on them.
3. To have a third box in each town
ship in which constables, Justices of the
peace and any other question may be
voted ON by the voters of a township;
the ballots in this box to be cast under
the same rules and regulations as govern
the voting in the other boxes. 1t will be
remembered that there was considerable
discussion IN the last campaign as to
whether magistrates were county or
township officers and whether voting for
them on the same ticket and in the same
box as county officers did not, under the
law, invalidate the entire ballot cast in
that box.
4 To strike out the section in regard
to filing expense accounts.
3. To allow electors to register until
II o'clock ON challenge day. This is a
half day longer than was given under the
old law. Otherwise the days for registra-
ton and challenge are not changed.
6. To require those challenging a vote
to make an affidavit setting forth the
charges against the challenged elector
1t is required Of the challenger to pay
the cost of serving such notice, which is
fixed at % cents i'm each case. If the
challenge is sustained the county must
reimburse the challenger, if not, of course
he is required to pay the cost. The rea-
son for this is to prevent the challenge
Of suspected criminals and nonresident
negroes by Democrats.