The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-11-24
LEGALIZE THE PRIMARIES.


We give below the main features of
the Primary Election Law which fail
ed at the last session of the Legisla-
ture. 1t is fortunate that it did fail
as it will be seen to contain several
Objectionable features.
The feature of the proposed bill
which has excited the most diverse
comment is that providing for an en-
rollment of voters according to party
utilization. The books kept by regis
tration officers are to be arranged to
show such utilization. In addition to
the entries now made when q voter
registers, there is to be a column
headed PARTY Affiliation." Upon
presenting himself for registration the
voter is to be asked to state his poll.
tics. If he says he is Democrat, Re-
publican, or connected with any other
party, the answer is SO recorded. If
he should decline to state his party
utilization such fact must be recorded.
If he voted in the last preceding pri-
mary of any party that fact is also to
be noted. A voter may decline to
state his party utilization, but in such
case he will not be permitted to vote
in the next primaries of any party.
At any intermediate registration a
voter may have the record of his party
utilization altered or stricken out.
The law then goes on to prescribe in
detail how the necessary information
regarding each applicant for registra-
ton is to be recorded, about as pre-
scribed by existing registration laws.
Especial careis to be taken to identify
the applicant and fix his place of resi-
dence. Names of voters are to be en-
tered upon the registration books in
alphabetical order, and at the end of
the period of registration the registers
must sign their names or initials i'm.
mediately after each group of names,
SO that no more names can be added
without discovery. The names of all
these registered must be printed and
posted in prominent places in at least
10 places in each precinct.
All general or local laws relating to
general elections are to be made APP
plicable to primary elections. All
primary elections held by any party
which at the next preceding Presi-
Dental election cast 90 per cent. or
more of the total number of votes
will be subject to the provisions of
this law. After the next general
registration held after the passage of
the law he board of election super
visors of the city and several counties
shall have separate poll lists made
up of each political party. After each
intermediate registration tie lists
must be revised in accordance with |
the result. After the law is fully in |
operation not more than 900 voters of
the party holding primary are to be
grouped in any primary election pre-
cinct.
All primary elections are to be by
ballot and subject to the rules aud |
regulations of the party. The party |
organization is to fix the time of the
primary, giving at least 80 days |
notice to the beard of supervisors |
Polls must be open at least five hours. |
They shall not open before noon nor |
close before p. NJ. The location of |
polling places must be furnished the |
supervisors of election six days before |
the primaries.
Any portion or fraction of party |
may secure representation among the !
judges and clerks by fling specified |
certificates, naming the persons they |
desire so chosen. To secure such
representation for the entire city of
Baltimore, or an entire Congressional
district, not less than 800 signatures |
must be obtained; for legislative dis. !
trict of Baltimore, or an entire county
100 signatures; for a ward of BaIti |
more, 100 signatures; for an election
district of county, so signatures. II
one or more such certificates of appli-
10 PiOpSIIS hlSo tlicEe Dc
a judge and a clerk allowed for each. |
If no certificates are filed the judges
and clerks are to be appointed &C.
cording to regular party usage.
A primary election inspector for
each polling place is to be named by
the supervisors of elections in the
manner that judges and clerks are
named. He must be regularly en-
rolled as a member of his party. The |
duties of the inspector are to take n |
copy of the poll list and check off the |
name of each person who votes in the |
primary. He may examine all bal
lots, books and papers, but has no |
other powers beyond noting what !
he sees. When the returns have been |
made out he is to certify them, or
fully detail in writing the reasons
why he refuses to do SO. He is to |
take charge of the sealed ballot box
and the copy of the returns and re-
turn them to the Office of the super
vissrs Of elections. The inspector is