The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-03
our pRss.nr BALLOT LAW.


10 the Editor Of NE Press:
Immediately after our State election,
there was the usual, biennial assault
upon our present voting system. The at
tacs was little more virulent and Wig
orous than usual. but is Inspired BY the
same motives and made by the same
psrtisS a. IL has been every year since the
law was enacted.
Perhaps ten per cent. Of the voters OF
Maine today, are actually opposed TO 30
cret ballot, or the Australian ballot, but
they are the ones who have always op-
posed IT.
believe the remaining ninety per cent.
of our voters prefer the present law with
ell Its f,ults, to the old system Of voting
But that same ninety per cent. would
like better law, In some respects, than
We have How oan they get it,
There are four courses that the legisla-
ture can take In relation to our system of
voting: Retain the present law; un-
changed; amend IL as experience has
shown 1t should be; repeal 1t and enact
q new law (either bstter or worse;) or re-
peal 1t and re-inact the old law.
To my mind the only safe and feasible
| course is the second one. viz. amend the
law we have. leaving the substantial
workings OF tho law as they are now and
with which the voters have become IA
miliar by years Of practice. To that end
every friend of q secret and untrsmmeiled
ballot should direct his energies.
They are four amendments, which In
my humble opinion should DO made to
the present ballot law by the incoming
Legislature. put them In the order, as
IL seems to me. of their Importance:
First, compel tho voting booths to be
so constr ucted that the voter n the act Ut
marking his ballot, will be hidden from
view Of every body. Ihis can be done and
have the booths arranged and placed as at
present, by constructing the voting
booth above the shelf, of sufficient pro-
portion to allow the voter to enter the
booth and permit two small lattice doors.
arranged to readily swing in our out, 10
close behind him and thus conceal the
necessary part Of his person. while prspar-
ing his ballot. Such an arranged booth
would be simple, convenient and inexpen-
siye. 1t would secure absolute secrecy In
preparing the ballot and that Is one nrst
and great onsideration on the Australian
system OF voting.
Second, broaaen the provisions Of the
statute in relation to voting split or
mixed ticket. The law 10 not only mar
row and unreasonable. but Its provisions
are vigorously contrary TO the course the
voter would naturally pursue In splitting
his ticket. What more natural thing Tor
a voter to do, IN splitting his ticket. than
to put the sticker directly Nbove ana over
~.
crossed out, yet the law says. and the
court sustains 1t. If you do so. your vote
is defective. Such u provision has neither
the merit OF fairness, naturalness nor
common sense and gives color to the
charge, SO often made, that the law was
purposely constructed 10 prevent inde-
pendent voting.
Change the law then, so that a name
written In the proper space, either above
or below the name crossed out, or stick
er put In an adjoining space above or be-
low or directly over name crossed out,
shall be counted for the added osndidate,
unless the ballot Is otherwise detective
Make these two simple changes ana nine
tv-nine hundredths Of the real objections
IN the present law, would be removed.
The third amendments that should be
made IS to have the polls in oil cities Of
tn, state. open at SIX o'clock in the
morning and permit any town 30 voting
to do the same. The advantages OF suoh
a provision are too apparent to need dis
cussion.
The fourth, but In many respects the
least important, Is the question OF ex-
pense. | say the least important, because
any reasonable expense Is not too dear IL
procuring a free and unbiased opinion Of
the voter ut the ballot box.
The great cry about the expense Of the
present law arises from faults thas are
III hi ~ ha La
The total appropriation for printing spec
linen ballots, distri butinR the same and
pay ing for all printing required by law,
iu at least thirty two papers throughout
the State, EN- brscing over tive hundred
oities, towns and plantations, for the
present year, was only $500 And yet
the expenses for the Australian ballot in
this city for the municipal year, ending
March /, 1893. u year including only oity
elections, was over $1,000, or more than
half the amount voted the State printer
for doing the same work for the whole
state of Maine OF this amount $3i06 was
the items for printing, stationery, adver-
Using, etc. This amount Is nearly II not
quite double what was ever charged be-
fore, II my memory serves me right. The
economical opponents of the present law.
will Ind that the charge Of extravaganza
lies more in the local than in the general
application.
It is an open secret that the opponents
Of the existing sy tenn Of voting, are only
waiting to find some member Of the Leg
isature of ability and reputation to lead
off, the ballot law will be repealed the
coming session The friends of the Aus
tralian ballo. should wake up, determine
What they want, agree upon IT. and pre-.
sent solid front, or they will wake up
some morning before the first of March
and find that 1t is too late. If the pres
ent law is once repealed IL will take
long struggle to get another to take its
place.