The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-29
THE ELECTION LAW BILL.

On the 18th inst. the Record Union"
at considerable length reviewed the pro-
posed new election law, pointing out
wherein changes had been suggested.
The chief of these is, of course, the sub
stitution of the parallel column for the
blanket ballot, and provision for a blank
independent column wherein the voter
may write names of those he desires to
vote for, a change this paper has advo-
Gated for years
Some further changes have been made
in the bill, and the clause will be added
for which this journal has so long
pleaded, namely, that it shall be incun-
bent upon the Board of Election i'm
naediately upon the completion of the
tallying, to post ar official copy of the
totals outside the voting place, and that
it shall be crime to mutilate or tear
down the same.
In view of the supreme Importance
of the subject and the general merit of
Mr.. Richards bill CA. B. 19), we now
present a distinct statement of the
specific changes proposed by the meas
ure that there may be perfectly clear
understanding concerning it, and full
knowledge Of the changes proposed in
certain sections of the present law.
The change in Section 1,0S3 relates to
qualification of the voter; providing
that he shah be enrolled on the Great
Register twenty-five days prior to the
election, instead of fifteen as at present.
That makes it conform to the
time of closing registration. AS
the law at present stands, in coun-
ties in which there are new registra-
lions, a. voter can not get on the Regis
ter within eighty-five days of election,
but where there is a continuous regis
tration he can be registered up to with
in fifteen days of election. The pro-
posed change makes it uniform for all
counties.
The present law directs registration
to commence 100 days before election
and to continue for seventy-five days
continuously. The amendments to Sec
ton 1904 requires that it shall COM
mence at least 100 days before a gen
eral election and continue without
break for seventy-five days. The pres
ent law requires that registration af-
fidavits shall be arranged in separate
precinct lists, which are to be completed
at least seventy-two days prior to a
general election. The proposed amend
ment (Section Lib, alters the time in
which those lists must be completed to
twenty days before election. AS regis
tration would close twenty-five days be-
fore election, this will allow five days
in which to complete the lists.
The only changel from the present law
in Section 1,115 is, that the County
Clerk, or person in charge of the Regis
ter of Voters, shall have a copy of the
precinct register delivered to the printer
at least twenty days before a general
election. This is to make it harmonic
with other provisions of the proposed
law
Under the present law precinct
boundaries may be changed up to with
in thirty days of a general election
The proposed amendments to Section
1,130 forbids any change of boundaries
after registration has commenced, viz.
100 days before election. In Section
1,131 a change made is necessary to
conform TO the proposed new style of
ballot AT present all unexpired terms
are lastly designated on the ballot The
new location places each Immediately
after the nominations for the full term.
The proposed amendment of Section
1,160 fixes 6 o'clock in the morning as
the time for opening the polls, instead
of sun rise"
All voters who are within the cleo
ton booth at the time of closing the
poll are to be permitted to cast their
ballots (Section 1,169). This amend
ment places on the Statute Book the
unwritten law of the present times
thereby preventing any election Officer
taking snap judgment on voters who
are entitled to cast ballots. The change
proposed in Section LIZA is IN the form
Of the tally lists and the manner O