New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06
SPLIT-TICKET VOTING.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS ABOUT THIS-AD'
VICE ON OTHER POINTS

We YIN VI fol.>
Thousands OF votes are lost at every election
in this city because citizens mark their ballots
Improperly. Here ar. some rules that every
citizen should observe in voting next Tuesday:
Vote as early as you can The polls are open
al & a. m, but some OF the election districts con-
tain 50 many voters this year that there may be
difficulty in receiving all the votes IL the electors
delay in going to the polls At ) p. m the polls
will be closed.
folded ballot will be handed to you by the
poll clerk Take the ballot into the voting booth,
and open and mark it there in secret The num-
bered stub of every ballot is torn off before the
ballot is placed in the box and no one will
know. unless you choose to tell, how you vote.
In marking the ballot only pencil with
black lead, or your vote will be thrown out
Be careful not to tear the ballot in marking
it. Do not erase or scratch out anything on the
ballot. If you do your vote is lost. Make only
the cross CX) mark on the ballot
II you want to vote a straight ticket. make
only the cross (X) mark in the circle under the
emblem OF your party.
The safest way 10 vote a split ticket is not to
make the mark in the circle at the top OF any
column, but TO make tie mark in the space IN
front Of the name Of every candidate for whom
you want to vote.
When you have marked the ballot. and be-
fore you leave the secret booth. fold the ballot
again. following the old creases.
Then leave the booth and hand your ballot TO
the inspector of election at the ballot-box.
See that he tears off the stub and places the
ballot in the box. Then you can feel sure that
yoI have voted properly. and that your vote will
be counted as it was cast.
Most Of the trouble in voting comes Of voting
split tickets. The Legislature last winter tried
to prevent the loss Of votes. where the intention
of the voter plain. by passing some new
rules regarding the canvassing of the votes, ana
the rules are intended to permit the voting OF
split tickets without making marks In front of
the names of all candidates for whom the elector
desires to vote. 1t is a question, however. II
election officers can be made to understand the
rules and follow them In the counting OF ballots
in the election one of the rules reads as fol-
lows.
When two or more perTons a-e 10 be voted f2r
for the same office tvO or more Justices OF me
Supreme Court or Pre-. lentia Electors-and the
names Of tn" eevefa candidates therefor q. a. =
printed any ticket under the title or the oifc
Tor which all are running and tho electors shal
have made a voting mark In the circle at the head
Of the ticket and shall also have made Notlns
mark I'm the voting space before the name OF more
than one Of the group OF candidates for such oihcc
tickets or 10y writing the name or names OF a
candidate candidates in the blank column ne
must also indicate by voting marks in the voting
spaces on the ticket so marked in the circle the
individual candidates Of the group of candldatt
on such ticket for whom he desires to vote or ms
vote shall only be counted for the candidates LOT
such Office which Individually marked on
other tickets or written in the blank column.
1t may he safe, therefore, to vote spht
ticket by the use OF a few marks, II the voter
understands exactly what he is doing and the
inspectors Of election understand the law when
they count the votes. but the safest way is 10
no original directions in the law. as
follows:
II the elector desires TO vote split ticket-that
is for candidates Of different parties-he mus. nor
make q cross (N) mark I'm the circle above the
name of any party. but shall make cross *,
mark in the voting space before the name OF each
candidate for whom he desires 10 vote on what
ever ticket he may be.
In voting a split ticket this year K VIII be
necessary for the voter TO be careful not u
make marks in front of the names Of more than
three candidates for the Supreme Court. lf ne
marks in front Of the names Of four OF those
candidates, his vote for all candidates for the
Supreme Court is lost.