The Elk Mountain pilot., 1903-02-17
TO REVOLUTIONIZE
THE PRIrlARIES

at general elections, and thug to rem
der impossible the easy manipulation of
primaries, which is the weakest spot in
our present system of popular govern
ment.
Following is a synopsis Of the pro-
visions of the bill, which is of consid-
cradle length and very careful and spe-
cific in all the details involved in its
operation:
Section 1 provides that e primary
election shall be held within the sew
eral precincts of the territory for
which officers are to be elected seven
weeks preceding an election for the
purpose of nominating all officers ex-
cept state officers and that such
primary election shall constitute and
be in lieu of the first. day of fregistra-
tion as now provided by law, subse-
quent registration days remaining as
at present. Nt
q Section 2 prescribes that a political
party. within the meaning of the act,
is one which shall have cast at least
ten per cent of the total vote cast at
the last preceding election for its lead
Ing candidate. Nominations for candi-
dates of such parties must be, made
under the law and not otherwise, but
nominations of other than such politi-
cal parties may be made by petition
as at present.
Section declares that at least
twenty days before the primary cleo
ton day any person seeking an office
shall appear before the secretary of
state, If the Office is to be voted for in
more than one county, or the county
clerk if voted for in a single county.
with an affidavit that it is his bona fide
Intention to run for the nomination for
any specified office, and upon payment
TO the secretary OF state of $40, or in
case he goes before the county clerk.
of $40, his name shall be placed on the
primary election ballot All fees paid
to the secretary of state are to be di-
vided among the counties taking part
in the election. A form for the nomi-
nation affidavit is prescribed in the
bill E
Section provides that on the nine
teenth day before the primary election
the secretary of state shall certify to
the county clerks and recorders of the
several counties the names of all quail
flied candidates of all the political
parties, and on the fourteenth day be-
fore the primary election the county
clerk and recorder shall prepare at
once in writing n separate ballot for
the candisates of each party, grouped
by themselves, and publish the same
twice in the official paper of his county.
This section also prescribes the form
of the ballot.
Section s provides that judges of
election in each precinct shall I've des-
ignated in the same manner as now
provided by law. and further provides
for the addition of two more clerks in
case of emergency.
Section 8 provides that on the pri-
mary election day the judges and
clerks of election shall perform both
the duties of the board of registration
as prescribed by the registration law
of the state and the duties of judges
and clerks of primary election, but
shall only receive single pay.
Section 10 prescribes that the regis
tors provided by the general registra-
tion law of the state shall have an ad-
ditioudl column headed, Voted, Pri-
maDy Election" No names are to be
placed on the registers previous to the
day of primary election, nor upon that
day, in any city or incorporated town,
except those who shall appear in per-
son before the board.
Section IA prescribes the qualifica-
tions of voters. The voter must be
registered according to law ard is then
entitled to receive a ballot of the polit-
ical party which he then declares (un-
der oath, If his right thereto is chal-
lenged) that he is affiliated with.
Section Is specifies the manner of
marking ballot.
Section 16 relates to the manner OF
casting ballot.
Section II prescribes the prelimi-
naries to be observed before proceed
ing to count the ballots, blank being
prepared by the judges and clerks, to
be sent to the county clerk, giving the
numbers of persons present at the
election and the number of ballots
cast. On the registers opposite the
names of persons voting shall be
marked the word voted" the word
no" designating those who did not
vote
Section IS prescribes the method of
canvassing the vote. The ballots of
the different parties shall be separat-
ed and those of each party counted
apart from the others.
Section 10 relates to tally sheets and
returns. s-rert
Section 20 relates to the making out
of returns.
Section % relates to the report of
the canvassing board. The board shall
make and sign a statement as follows:
l. A statement containing the
names of all candidates voted for at
the primary election, with the number
of votes received by each, and for what
office. said statement to be made for
each political party separately.
2. A statement of the names of the
persons or candidates of each political
party who are nominated. to-wit:
Those persons or candidates of such
political party who received the high
est number of votes for the respective
Offices and where there is more than
one person to be elected to a given Of
flee the names of so many candidates
receiving the next highest number of
votes as there are persons to be elect
ed to that office In case of q tie the