The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-11
A NEW ELECTION LAW
SUGGESTIONS AS TO TIE PROVISIONS II
SHOULD CONTAIN.
Mr.. ]. D. McNeiIl Advises Plan Similar tc
the Australian Ballot System Minus
the Party Device.

TO the Editor: l note in several
communications that have recently APP
reared in your valuable paper, that While
every one seems to agree that new
election law is necessity that no one as
yet. has made any suggestions that VIII
guide the public mind in framing such
q law as will be credit to our party
and also accomplish the absolutely es-
septial requisite of guaranteeing IN the
future white supremacy.
Permit me as "a voter who has been
closely connected with every election
since 1870 to submit without the ver-
hinge and necessarily essential detallsl
n general outline of an election law that
no fair-minded man can question or
condemn, and which would, l believe,
guarantee white supremacy and good
government.
/. There shall be u new registration
throughout the entire State.
.. The registrar must be a man Of
character and intelligence.
3. No voting precinct must contain
more than $50 voters
1. ne first qualification of voter must
bt. the presentation of his tax receipt
for his poll and personal property tax
for the current year or the sheriff
certificate that he is not liable for any
on account Of age or poverty. Next he
must satisfy the registrar beyond rca-
sonahle doubt that he is a qualified voter
as to age. residence. ETC., etc.
Registration books to close two weeks
before election day.
On election day polls to be held by an
election board to consist of the registrar
and two election inspectors to be rec
commended by their respective party
chairman. Democratic and Republican.
Said board to be furnished by the Sec
rotary Of State of North Carolina with
the proper number of commonwealth
ballots to correspond with the number of
registered votes for each precinct.
The ballot to be printed by the State
and shall be of sufficient size to contain
the names of every candidate to be
voted for and the office for which he
has been nominated. The names of the
candidates shall be printed in plain let
ters and on the margin of each name
there shall be [ in which the voter
snail check his choice.
Each voting precinct shall have GER
tain booth open at the bottom, which
shall contain a desk supplied with pen
and ink, and which must be situated at
least ten feet away from the election
officials.
Every qualified voter. on demand. shall
be handed an official ballot by the in
spector and be allowed two minutes in
the booth to read and check up his bal
lot BY HIMSELF, without the inter-
ference of any one whatever, and when
finished shall hand the same to the in
pector who shall carefully guard the
same.
When polls are closed every candidate
shall have the right either in person or
proxy, to be present and overlook the
count, the result of which Wen finished.
shall be officially announced by the pre-
cinct officials.
The above general outline, properly
guarded by the necessary details as to
appointments, certificates of election,
penalties, ETC., etc, will, in my opinion,
give satisfaction to all fair-minded men.
Now let's hear from some one else with
something better.
| desire to further say in this connec-
ton that an absolutely necessary essen
tlal to such law for the future welfare
and success of the Democratic party is
primary system that will be open to
and will so commend itself to all white
men that hereafter our nominations will
he equivalent to an election.
JAMES ID. MNEILL.