The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-19
The voting Machine.

The voting machine should make more
rapid progress toward general adoption in
this country. II is the natural sequence
and completion Of the Australian ballot.
II Is. indeed. almost as great an i'm
provement upon the present method OF
casting the vote as that Is upon the old.
evil way before the Australian system
came into use. We are convinced that. as
soon as the public generally understands
the value OF the voting machine. 1t Will
be adopted universally.
The machine consists OF small meta.
booth. In which il placed an instrument
somewhat resembling cash register. On
the knobs are arranged the names OF all
the candidates to be voted for. exactly
as they are on the ordinary ofScIal ballot.
The voter selects candidate. presses that
knob. and his vote is recorded within the
machine. which at the same time locks
the knobs with the names OF all other cam
didates for the same once. 20 that but
one can be voted for n the knob carry
Ing the party designation ~ pressed.
straight vote Is recorded and all the other
knobs are locked
The process Of voting Is no more COM
pick than now. but there are immense I'm
provements In results. Additional secrecy
is secured 1t not infreauently happens.
under the present system that ballots
are so marked that they can be identified;
and number OF schemes have been In
vented for keeping tab on the voter with
corrupt Intention The machine makes all
this impossible There Is absolutely no
material record left OF any vote save the
printed figures on the paper inside the
machine. which are put there by pressing
the knob. There Is no possibility OF dis
pute over the returns There can be no
errors In the count. Mechanical accuracy
IL secured. and recounts are made both
unnecessary and impossible.
A great gain is made in eliminating the
tedious ana laborious process OF counting
the votes. This. which now consumes
days in some Of the larger precincts. Is
abolished. The machine makes Its own
totals AZ the votes are cast. All that has
10 be done II to unlock n when the hour
for closing the polls arrives. and read the
results printed plainly opposite each can
didate's name. In the election this year
in Northampton. Mass. ZOO votes were
cast throughout the city. and the resais
was made public in less than ten minutes
after the polls were closed similar re-
suits have been obtained In several OF tho
larger elite. OF New York state, where
machines have been in use for years
The matter IL no longer experimental
For ten years or more these machines
have been on trial There are several ar
fsrent makes. so that no monopoly com
trolls them. They have been improved by
experience until no~ their work Is perfect
~ reliable, Their f'rst cos, is considerable.
but as they do away with the expense %
constructing election booths end save the
cyss7rt ssas.oss and the salaries Of eiaetlei,
officers for counting the vote. they pay
for themselves quickly thus making .
permanent saving TO the community. All
tho arguments, practical as well as the
orsfscai are on the side or the voting
machine. The washington legislature at
its coming session should pass law
permitting the use OF such machines IN
the principal cities Of the state AZ their
pleasure. II viii serve convenience. econ
omy. reform ami score, ana honest bal-
lot