Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-03-03
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW,
Counties Outside Of Cook VIII vo:e Upon
the Measure.

the Measure.
The Crawford primary election law
goes into effect at once in Cook county.
In other counties it will not be opera
tive unless it is adopted by popular
vote OF the county. The electors of any
county. city. village or incorporated
town may adopt and become entitled to
the benefit of this act whenever 1000
legal voters of such county, city, ETC.,
shall petition the Judge Of the county
court to submit the proposition to a
vote of the people and the proposition
shall carry by majority of the votes
cast. If 1000 shall exceed one-eighth
OF the legal voters Of the county, city,
ETC., then tie petition need not be
signed or made by more than one
eighth of the voters. The proposition
so TO be voted for shall be on a separate
ballot
Following are the important provis-
ions of the law: Any political party
or organization which, at the last pre-
ceding general election in this state,
polled at least 10 per cent. of the entire
votes cast in such county, city, viii
lage or Incorporated town shall be en-
titled under this act to hold one pri-
mary election on any day between No
vember and April next following and
preceding and regular spring election,
and another primary election on any
day between April and November next
following and preceding any regular
November election. Within the time
limited aforesaid, such political party
or organization, through its central
committee or managing committee, may
determine the day for holding such pri-
mary election. But no two parties
shall hold their primary elections on
the same day, and the first political
party applying shall have the prefer
ence in the choice Of days.
Primary Election Districts.
Not less than two and not more than
six contiguous regular election precincts
Of the same ward or other political di-
vision. in as compact form as practi-
cable, shall be Joined to form one pri-
mary election district, but in such man.
ner that each primary election district
shall include at least three regular cleo
ton judges and two regular election
clerks resident therein. In no event
shall any primary election district con-
tain more than LOCO voters, to be ascer-
tanned by the party vote Of the party
holding the primary election cast at
the last preceding general election. The
term general election" is construed as
meaning any election held for the choice
OF national, state, judicial. district or
county officer. whether for the full term
or to fill vacancy.
Judges and Clerks.
Where no board Of election commits
sioners exists and where the judges and
clerks of election are appointed and
chosen by a board of supervisors or
commissioners, then the judges and
clerks who are to serve at a primary
election shall be members of the po-
litical party holding the election. and IL
there be no such judges and clerks,
then the county central committee or
governing committee shall have the
power to appoint them. The central
committee or managing committee OF
any political party entitled to hold pri-
mary elections shall establish the pri-
mary election districts and the polling
places. The Judge and clerks shall
equip polling places with the necessary
books ana papers.
The political party desiring to hold a
primary election must, at least fifteen
days before such election, file with the
board of election commissioners a call
or application in writing, giving the
name Of the party. address Of the head
quarters Of the central or managing
committee; day on which the primary
election is to be held: the name. place
and time OF every convention for the
nomination OF candidates; description
OF each OF the various primary election
districts, together with the names OK
three persons for judges and Of two per-
sons for clerks of election in each dis
trct; the number OF delegates for each
district to each convention. Provided:
That the number Of delegates from
each Of the districts be proportioned
equally to the number Of the party in
each district as shown by the last pre-
cediu9 presidential election returns: