Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-01-31
PRIMARY ELECTIONS
GOVERNORS BILL INTRODUCED
IN THE LEGISLATURE.
CAUCUSES WIPED GU
Ard Conventions Are Also Eliminated
Extra Registration Day Provided
and Another Legal Holiday Created
Platforms Made by Party Nominees
of the Essence Bill.

The primary election law, as in
troduced in both branches of the legls-
iature Monday, comprises 80 sections.
Sections 1 and 2 repeal all existing /
statutes regulating caucuses and con-
ventions, but it is specifically provided
that the primary election law shall
not apply to judicial, village, township,
school district and special elections to
fill vacancies.
Section 8 provides that primary cleo
tons shall be held for all general
elections on the first Tuesday in Sep
TENDER and for all other elections reg
ulated by the act three weeks in adj
vance of such elections.
Section 4 relates to the designation
by the secretary of state of officers to
be voted for and the publication there
of by local officers
Section determines the time for
filing nomination papers; requires
that such papers of candidates for
state Offices shall be signed by cleo
tors in at least twelve counties; of
candidates for congress by electors in
one-half the counties of the district;
of candidates for the senate and as
sembly, city and county Offices by
electors in at least one-ffth Of the
election precincts of the district, city
or county, and shall be signed by two
per cent. of the voters of the party
represented. The basis for estimating
this percentage is the largest vote for
an elector at the preceding presi-
Dental election. Provision is made for
an official ballot for any party rep
resented on the official ballot at the
preceding general election by individ-
ual nominations which cast one per
cent. of the total vote of the state.
Section 6 requires separate nominal
ton papers to be circulated in each
precinct where used and an affidavit
attached of an elctor of personal &C
quaintance with the signers and know[
edge that their statements of residence
and occupation are correct.
Sections Z, So 10, II, II and Is, relate
to filing nomination papers, making
and publishing notices of primary cleo
tions, the printing and distribution of
ballots, and provides that each party
shall have a separate ballot
Section IA provides that all provi-
sions of Chap. 5, Statutes of 1898 and
amendments thereto, are made ap-
plicable to primary elections, unless
otherwise provided. In cities the
primary election day shall be from six
o'clock in the morning until nine
o'clock at night. In all other precincts
the polls shall be opened at eight
o'clock in the morning and shall be
closed at six o'clock in the evening.
Section Is makes the primary cleo
ton day a day for registration and
prohibits any registration after that
day except by the personal appear
ance of the voters before the inspec-
tors. Registration is not required in
any election precinct where the exist
ing law does not demand it. The pay
of inspectors and clerks is limited to
three dollars per day.
Sections 16, II, IS, 10, 20, 81, % aud
% relate to challenges, form of af-
fidavit, the returns of inspectors of
election and canvass of votes. 1t is
provided that the chairmen of the
county committees of the state shall
meet at the state capiol one week after
each primary election and canvass
the votes for state officers and con-
gressmen. They shall also at this
time canvass the votes of senate and
assembly districts which cover more
than one county.
Section "a makes the chairmen of
the county committees constitute the
state central committees of the
various parties and provides for the
: organization of all other political
committees. In the state central COM
mittee each county chairman is en-
titled to one vote for each one hun
dred votes cast by his party at the
preceding national election. and in
city, county and Legislative COM
mittees each precinct chairman has
one vote for each twenty-five votes
cast by his party at such election.
Section 25 provides for filling vacan-
cies in the positions of precinct and
SouHly IuSu.
Section &c provides that county
chalrmen at their meeting to canvass
votes in the years of presidential cleo
lions are authorized and directed to
choose by ballot the electors of their
party for president and vice president
Section q provides that candidates
for state officers and for the senate
and assembly at time specified are
empowered to adopt party platforms
A roll call and majority vote is re-
quired.
Section Is provides that the
nominee and congressional committee
of each district make the con-
gressional district platform.
Section 20 provides that upon the
first Tuesday in April, town meeting
day, of the year in which a president
is elected, delegates at large to the
national convention shall be elected
as state officers are nominated, and
congressional district delegates shall
be elected as congressman are nomi-
mated.
Section 80 prohibits placing any
name on an official ballot ~ city or
general elections unless such person
has been nominated as provided in
this act. Electors may write in or
paste any name upon the ballot used
Section 81 provides that vacancies