Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-03-14
CAUCUS LAW PROVISIONS.
viii Affect Caueuses in Cities but Not in
Towns This Spring. Synopsis Of Prinei-
pal Features OF the New Law.

! The changes in the caucus and cleo
| ton laws made by the Last legislature
require the attention of voters before the
coming election. The caucus system
in force the past two years has beer
done away with, and we revert TO what
| is essentially the old plan except that it
| is placed under some regulations as to
the time it must be held, how conducted
and who may vote.
1t must be noted in the first place that
the new law regulating caucuses applies
to general elections in all towns, cities
and villages and to all regular city cleo
tons. 1t also applies to city caucuses
for the election Of delegates to the coun-
ty convention 1t does not apply TO
town caucuses for the nomination of
town officers. They may be conducted
in the same manner as heretofore.
| The law provides three ways in which
nominations may be made, viz:
| First. BY party caucus.
| Second. In nominations for city Off
GERS by convention of at least thirty
electors or nine delegates for ward Of
ice by caucus of at least ten electors.
| Third. BY nomination papers.
| 1t is provided that in cities all caucus
es of one political party shall be held at
the same hour, which hour shall be de-
signated by the city committee. The
caucuses preliminary to a county con-
vention must be held at the same hour
in all cities in the county, the hour to be
fixed By the county committee. Notice
of the time of holding such caucuses
must be published in a newspaper. In
towns where no newspapers are publish
ed, notices must be posted in three pub
lie places at least ten days before the
caucus is held.
Every caucus under the provisions of
this law must be held open for at least
one full hour, and all votes for candi-
dates or delegates must be by ballot.
The chairman of the city or ward COM
mittee shall act as chairman of the eau
Gus. A secretary and two tellers shall
be chosen by the voters at the caucus.
The chairman and secretary must take
oath that they win faithfully, honestly
and correctly conduct the voting.
The secretary is required to make a
poll list of all persons voting at the eau
Gus Ballots may be written or printed
and shall be deposited in ballot box in
the same manner as at an election.
No person shall vote or offer to vote
more than once for any candidate or dele
gate or set cI delegates in any ne eau
Gus, nor ir airy caucus held in any eau
Gus district n which he shall not at the
time be resident and duly qualified
elector, and no person shall vote or offer
to vote in any caucus where candidates
and delegates are to be chosen, if he has
already voted at the caucus of any other
political party for candidates to be voted
for, or for delegates to he chosen to a
convention to nominate candidates to be
voted for atthe next ensuing election
The chrirman and secretary of eau
Gus are required to canvass the votes, de-
clare the results and certify the nomina-
tions Immediately after the caucus ad-
journs,
Violations Of any provisions Of the law
are made punishable by fine not ex-
ceeding $500 or imprisonment or both.