The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-07-20
THE SECRECY OF THE BALLOT

The intention OF the Australian law,
il 1t had any intention, was to secure
the secrecy of the ballot. II it had no
such intention there was no sense in its
enactment, and II it fails to effect its
intent it should be repealed. As it
stands at present, or as it is construed
by the courts, the effect is precisely
the reverse of its presumed purpose.
Whether this is the fault of the law or
its Interpreters. the result ia the same.
and fraud and corruption in the pur-
chase OF votes is made easier and safer
than under the old law, when the pur-
chased voter received his ballot and
was watched by the purchaser until he
handed 1t to the officers OF the election.
Under the old law the purchase and
watching system could not be carried
on to any considerable extent without
discovery, while under the present
statute, as it ia construed, a candidate
can safely purchase any number OF
votes and insure the delivery of the
goods" by distinguishing marks, which
the courts have decided must be proven
to have been made with the intention
OF fraud, to render them illegal and
cause their rejection. Such proof il
would be impossible to obtain in one
case In a hundred where the law is in
.tentionally and fraudulently violated.
To render an election law of that
character effective, its provisions must
be strictly adhered to and any devia-
tion from the instructions by the voter
In making out his ballot should be suf
6cient cause for its rejection. In other
words, anything which might be made
distinguishing mark should invalldate
the ballot, whether made with fraudu
lent intent or through negligence or ig-
norance. The instructions are plain
and easily understood, and any man
who cannot comprehend them, or who
will not take the pains TO inform
himself, deserve to lose his vote. While
II may seem hard in some cases, it is
better that few honest citizens should
lose their votes than that the doors
should be opened to perhaps hundreds
OF sell out scalawags to receive the price
OF their infamy by other distinguishing
marks, ostensibly no more in violation
OF the law than those innocently made
by the honest but ignorant or negligent
voter
These comments are not made with |
any reference to the gubernatorial con-
test now in progress at Carson City.
The rule is doubtless supplied with i'm
partially to both sides, and we neither
know or care whether relator or re-
spondent is most gamer by it. We do
not charge either that the court errs in
its ruling under the law as it appears
upon the statute books. We do claim. |
however. If evidence of fraud. which
will in no instance be possible to obtain,
Is necessary TO invalidate a ballot, the
law should either be repealed or so
amended as TO leave no room for quib
bling in regard to the intent OF the
voter. The fact that ballot contains
anything on It's face which. renders IL
distinguishalle from others, should be-
cause for its rejection. The law as 1t
now stands, or rs it is executed, is a
farce upon justice, a travesty upon leg.
slative enactments and its proper title
would be Gan Act for Facilitating and
the Purchase and Sale OF
Votes at Elections. Reno Journal.
As we suggested last week, the sub
titution OF the rubber stamp for the
,encil In the voting booth will do away
With these distinguishing marks, and
cave no excuse for dishgured ballots. !
he law should be amended by the a
ext Legislature so as to correct the J
ELECTS which have become 80 glaring- c