The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-04-09
BILL THAT is NOW BEFORE THE
HOUSE.
Voters to Show on the Ballots the or
der Of Their Choice-How Counting is
Done.

The new election law, now on its way
through the house, Is next TO the coun-
~ act i'm bulk and shares with the lat
ter and the dispensary law IN import
ance. The election law is fathered by
John Emmeluth. 1t Is based on the
theory of proportional representation,
It's principal new feature being In the
sections devoted to stating the manner
of voting and counting votes.
The Quota" takes the place OF the
plurality or majority, in the proposed
new law. Electors marx their ballots
with numerals indicating first choice,
second choice, etc, and candidates are
elected or otherwise according TO how
they stand i'm the count Of voters pre-
ference a quota Of first choices giving
election. The quota" Is found by di-
Niding the whole number of votes by
the number of officers TO be elected to
a similar office. Were there five coun-
cilmen to be elected and the total vote
1000, quota would be 200. and any man
receiving that number Of first choices
would be elected
As soon as the election officers have
counted a quota for any candidate he
Is declared elected, and If he receives
any more first choice ballots, they are
To- be- distributed to the candidates
next of choice as indicated by the num-
erals on each ballot This procedure
would continue i'm the case cited above
until five men had been declared elect
ed Should there be no one with
quota, the candidate who has the least
number Of votes is to be eliminated and
his votes distributed among those re-
/ naming.
In the case Of a single Office to be
| filed voters must give at least four
| choices. A majority Of all the ballots
| is needed for an election. If no can
| didate has a clear majority Of first
| choice votes, the candidate obtaining
] the largest majority by the addition of
his first and second choice votes shall
| be declared elected
The marking Of several choices is
compulsory. Ballots are to be rejected
/ If marked other than with numerals;
! II a ballot for a single office be marked
/ with less numerals than there are can
didates up to and including fourth
| choice; If where there are two or more
offices less than six choices are mark
ed, If that many candidates are run
ming, as well as for the usual causes
I indicating possible fraud.
New registration and voting pre-
| CinCts are provided for in section one.
! Section six contains another new fea-
! ture being a provision that applicants
! appearing before Boards Of registration
shall enter upon the register In their
| own handwriting the data required by
the book of original registration, and
shall sign the same. Applicants are to
be examined on oath by the boards, as
provided in the next section.
Vacancies i'm elective offices are to be
filed according to section SO, by the
candidate who in the election before
the vacancy stood next in the count to
the man who Vacates such office. If
there is no candidate available or will
| ing to serve, or having 65 per cent of "A
quota, a special election shall he call
| ed
Territorial elections are provided foy
I in section "a and the next and last sec
ton of the proposed law contains the
! following provision for choice of a de-
! legate to Congress:
There shall be elected at each bien-
! NAL election one delegate to Congress,
! to serve two years, and such election
! shall be made under like auspices and
! conditions as elections for other terri
torial officers"
1t is claimed for the new system that
! it gives a fairer representation Of the
! popular preferences, giving effect to
| every vote cast and eliminating the
clash Of district interests. with its re-
| sutant total elimination Of a large pro-
! portion of the votes cast, in the pres
ent system.