Evening journal., 1902-12-17
REv1sE rnE BALLoTLAw

REVISE THE BALLOT LAW
There is no doubt that the voice of
every honest and intelligent voter of
Delaware Is for a reformation of our
election machinery. Instead OF giving
the greatest encouragement to men
who wish to register their sentiments
while making corrupt voting difficult,
the system works the reverse. Until
the last session of the Legislature our
system was cumbersome and left much
TO be desired but instead of a reform,
IL was crowned with infamy when the
votens' assistant act was passed. There
are those who through some mistaken
notion, were persuaded into voting for
the measure. who would give much to
undo their work. but It is too late for
repining, but not too late TO repeal it
1t was made for the specific purpose
of putting man in every booth to see
how the doubtful voter cast his bal
lot, and TO inform the paymaster out
side accordingly. It worked like al
charm The voter got token of some
sort to signify that he had delivered
the goods. and took it to the paymas-
ter, who honored It. Now were IL the
deliberate purpose OF the Legislature
to enact law to make bribery easy
and certain, no ingenuity could devise
anything superior to the voters as
sistant act.
That act should be repealed, and the
man who opposes the repeal will pro-
claim himself lover Of a prostituted
electorate.
Then we think our general election
law should be revised. The blanket
ballot has proved to be confusing and
cumbersome. IL discourages independ-
ent voting, while making all easy for
the illiterate or venal voter Now as
partisans, most men discourage cutting
a ticket. but as citizens we must real
ize that the matter OF prime Importance
is that every man shall be encouraged
and assisted in voting his real senti-
ments. We have no right to complain
Of any ballot that has honesty and in
dependence behind it. Therefore, we
think our election laws should be sim
plihed. and so shaped as TO facilitate
Independent voting
The envelope system has been inau-
gurated in several States. and is grow
ing in favor With such a provision
voter walks into the election room
and an envelope is handed him. He
goes into a booth and inserts a ticket
seals the envelope and it goes into th'
box. This means a secret ballot, since
nobody can tell what he encloses. VIII
such a system there would be no cause
for a mutilation Of ballots, as it woul'
not be necessary to mark them in an.
manner, the voter simply placing il
the envelope the ticket he desired 4
vote.
There is no reason for a retention 0
the blanket ballot. The clerks of tn
peace might furnish paper Of uniforl
quality to the leaders Of the respectiy
parties, and the ballots might be prin
ed by any one. There is no reason wh
persons should not be allowed to tai
them. and prepare the ticket they d
sire to vote in privacy. In addition
this, there should be ballots of the r
spective parties placed in the booth,
order that the man who changed h
mind at the last moment might have
chance.
This would come as near breakii
up wholesale bribery as any meth
that could be devised. since there wor
be no way Of telling what ballot m
cast, save by his word. and that in I
case of a purchased man is worthle
Some system must be devised if We {
to have elections in the future.
have Just passed through a farce Il
was not an election. but an auction