The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-04

It is to be hVd that there win be a
fun vote cast IN the election on next
Tuesday. and that every vote viii be
counted precisely as the elector intended.
1t il unfortunately the case that. 'notwith-
standing many years experience with the
Australian ballot systsm,. every election
sees numbers Of votes lost through mis-
takes made which render Il Impossible to
determine accurately how this elector in
tended TO vote. This year the probability
Of such mistakes occurring ID much IN
creased by the enormous sizs OF the bal
lot. which carries on its face five full ma
tional and state tickets This ballot will
be nearly fivs fest long, and win contain
lis names. besides the space for voting on
the pending constitutional amendment.
Unless the voter goes into the booth with
a clear and well defined idea as to how
he will vote. in the limited time accorded
him ne viii not be able to mark his bal
lot inteliigentiy.
renee Is the marking OF tho cross after
the first name on the ballot Of the candi-
date OF the political party which the voter
Intends to support. instead of making that
cross after the party designation. RE-
publican" at the head OF the ballot A
ballot thus marked can be counted only
cross IN made. In one instance since the
Australian ballot was adopted. the cleo
torsi vote OF one state. with the ex-
ception of one vote, was lost through the
commission OF this error by many menu
bers OF one political party Another mis-
take which the judges OF election have
often noted. and which has resulted in the
throwing out of q number OF votes. Is the
placing OF tho cross sauarely across the
line which divides the osicsal designation
Of one party or the name OF one oandi-
date from that OF another. instead Of In
the blank space.
Another danger lies in tina probability
tina, the voter who wishes 20 scratch one
Of his party's candidates viii sacrifice a
portion OF his vote Under the law. n
cross opposite the party designation at
the head Of the ballot carries a vote for
every candidate OF that party on the
ticket. n. however. voter attempts 70
vote fer one candidate Of the opposite
party. for an office where two or more
are TO be chosen. then he must pat a
cross against the name 70. cniy or that
one. but OF all those for whom he wishes
20 vote for that Office. For II the mark
stands opposite one name alone. while he
10 entitled 10 vote for two or three can
dlds,es for that once. there Is nothing 20
setcrmsns upon which of the remaining
ones his choice would fali Therefore his
vote IL counted foe the ono person select
e. and for no other.
Tho two recognized. safe ana legitimate
methods q marking the ballot ASou,
which there ia no question. are the mark
Ing OF one cross after tho party name.
which carries with st vote for the whole
ticket; ard tho marking az a ssparAfs
cross after the name Of each candidate
fer whom the voter desires 70 vote. The
former Is matter Of few seconds; thu
latter OF several minutes. In the former
method there Is no probability OF error:
in the latter. there are Jus, lis chances
that the voter may make mistake and
vote for some one whom he has no desire
20 see elected.
After all. the simplest. easiest and bes;
| method OF marking ballot in this cleo