The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-10-24
HOW TO VOTE THE TICKET.
Instructions Issued by the AttOrney-Gen-
eraI in Marking Your Ballot.

eral in Marking Your Ballot.
Both political parties claim that the
operation of the new ballot law will
be in their interest. The Democrats
hope to disfranchise many colored
voters because of their presumed ina
bility to correctly mark the ticket,
and the Republicans assert that
through careful instruction the ne
groes will become qualified to vote,
but that thousands of illiterate white
Democrats, resenting the imputation
cast upon their intelligence, will
remain away from the polls, or else
will cast their votes with the Repub-
licans. The result, however, is at
tended with uncertainty, and any
light which can be thrown upon the
situation is eagerly sought after.
Pursuant to the requirements of
law the Acknowledgement of Mary
land has prepared the following in
struction to voters
/. To vote. Enter room, step up
to the guard rail, give name and reg
istered residence to the judges. Wait
until your name is found upon the
registers, then get ballot from Judge
in charge of ballots. See that he has
written your name and number on
the coupon attached to the ballot and
his own name or initials on back of
ballot itself.
2. Upon receiving your ballot, re-
tire to one of the booths or compart-
ments and prepare your ballot by
marking with an indelible pencil after
the name of every person or persons
for whom you wish to vote and to the
right thereof, in the blank space pro-
vided therefor, cross, for example (X)
and in case of question submitted
to vote of the people, by marking
likewise in an appropriate space,
cross mark (X) against the answer
you desire to give. If you wish to
vote for some one whose name is not
printed on the official ballot, you
can write the name of such person in
the blank space upon the ballot pro-
vided for that purpose.
3. In marking the ballot you may
take with you into the polling place
any written or printed memoranda or
paper to assist you in preparing
your ballot, except fac-simile of the
ballot to be voted. You must prepare
and deposit your ballot without I'M
due delay. Before coming from be-
hind the curtain in front of your
compartment, you must fold your
ballot in the same way it was folded
when you received it, so that the
marks you have made upon it shall
be entirely concealed. You then hand
your ballot to the judge at the ballot
box, give him your name and regis
tered address, and wait until he tears
off the coupon containing your name
and number and strings it, and de-
posits your ballot in the ballot box.
You must then leave the polling room
and cannot again go behind the guard
rail during the day.
4. A voter must not go into any
compartment occupied by another,
or converse with any other voter
while engaged in a compartment, nor
can he occupy compartment more
than seven minutes if others are
waiting.
). You must not take any ballot
outside the guard rail. If you spoil
spoil ballot you must deliver the
spoiled ballot to the judge in charge
of the ballots, and you can receive
another from him. If you spoil
THREE ballots you lose your vote.
&. A voter who is physically disa-
bled from marking his ballot must
make an affidavit to that effect if he
desires assistance. The two polling
clerks, after such affidavits have been
made, can accompany him into one
OF the compartments and there mark
his ballot as he instructs them, mark
ing only the names of the candidates
whom he shall name. The clerks are
not allowed to read the ballot to him.
z. Any voter who shall allow his
ballot to be seen by any person with
the apparent intention of letting it be
known how he is about to vote, or
place any distinguishing mark upon
his ballot, or who shall make false
statement as to his inability to mark
his ballot, or who shall interfere or
attempt to interfere with any voter
when inside the inclosed space in the
polling room, or when marking his
ballot, or shall endeavor to induce
any voter to show how he marks or
has marked his ballot, shall be pun
ished by fine of not less than five
($5) dollars nor more than one hun
dred ($100) dollars, or imprisonment
in jail for period not exceeding sixty
days, or both fine and imprisonment
in the discretion of the court.