The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-13
Facts About the Primary Election.

: A citizen who does not pay very much
attention to politics writes to TIL e
J Journal to-. mention some stumbling
blocks in the primary election law and to
ask for information concerning them. The
points have been discussed before, but 1t
can do no harm and perhaps some good
to go over them once more.
Our correspondent says that he believes
that some voters will stay away from the
primary election because they do not know
what they ought to do or how to do it.
The primary election is simply an cleo
ton for party nominations. It takes the
place Of conventions which formerly
named the candidates. Now the voters Of
the different parties name the party NOM
inees without the help Of middlemen. At
the old primary or caucus delegates to
conventions were elected. Now the voter
casts his ballot directly for whomever he
favors as a party candidate. That candi-
date will be the candidate before the pri-
mary who receives the most votes. AS for
the method Of doing it," the procedure is
practically the same as at the final cleo
ton except that the voter asks for re-
publican or democratic ticket, according
to his party. Also the voter Is registered
on the primary election day.
! Another question re1ateseto whether a
voter can vote for persons on both party
tickets. This is an impossibllity under
che new law, as the voter receives only a
republican or democratic ballot, accord
| ing to his preference. Two years ago 1t
was possible for a. voter to mark names
on both tickets, but in that case the bal
lot having the fewest names marked was
not counted. ~ .'.
It must be remembered that the
primary election Is only selection OF
party candidates. It is plainly no more
than Just that only democrats should be
permitted to help nominate, democrats,
and only republicans, republicans.
In asking for ballot the voter must be
governed by the following rule: He must
} call for ticket Of the party with which
he has affiliated, which he most generally
: supported at the last election and expects
} to support at the approaching final cleo
ton. If a man considers himself a re-
publican and expects to vote the repub-
lican ticket in November, he Is entitled to
} ask for a republican primary ballot, even
if he "scratched' his republican ticket
somewhat two years ago. provided he
, voted at that time for more republicans
than candidates Of other parties. The
f same principle applies to democrats
/ After all, this part Of the law simply
' comes to this: Democrats must vote the
f democratic ticket and republicans must
. vote the republican.
3 Any voter qualified to vote at the No
+ venber election may vote at the primaries
;. in the precinct in which he lives. and
!, residence for certain number Of days In
4 that precinct is not required.
r It is true that some voters are, strictly
}, speaking, barred out from the primary
g A man, for example, who has changed his
i; politics since the last election, is not
: really entitled to vote in the primaries
r He is not entitled to help make the
s nominations Of the party he has just left
g that would be unfair; nor Is he qualified
: to help nominate the candidates Of an.
: other party till he has proven his party
affiliation by voting at a regular election
: for at least a majority Of the candidates
II Of the party he proposes to join. Persons
ID. ~ Ls,r s