The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-25
NEW ELECTION
 LAW FOR ALABAMA Bankhead Introduces Measure
 in the Legislature LONDON HAS PRIMARY, BILL The Bill Introduced Covers the Subject Fully and Adjusts the Election sys-
 tenn So as to Fit the New
 Constitution.


 Constitution.
 Montgomery, January 4.-(Special.)-A general election law presented by Mir. Bankhead of Walker was the feature of today's session of the legislature. Mir. Bankhead is chairman of the com mittee on elections, and his bill is there- for considered the one that is to receive the support of the house majority. MT. Bankhead has prepared his bill with much care, and it is generally considered a measure that will secure to the state fair elections
 MT. London of Jefferson. in line with MT. Bankhead's bill, presented a general state primary election law. This bill is drafted after the style of the Jefferson law, and it is understood that it Is sane toned by majority of t..e elections com mittee.
 Mir. Bankhead's bill is>very full, cover ing about thirty typewritten pages, but the following are the essential points of the measure:.
 The Bankhead Bill. The bill provides a permanent plan of registration for purging the registration list and new election law. The plan of registration follows as closely the tenn porary plan of the constitution as could be done under the form of the constltu- tion.
 A board of registrars for each county, consisting of three members, is to be ap- pointed by the governor, state auditor and commissioner of agriculture and indus tries to serve for a term of four years. They shall give at least twenty days mo- tice of the time when they will attend the registration of applicants for registration by advertisement for once a week for three consecutive weeks In a newspaper, if there IS one Tn the county. No person shall be registered except at the county site The board of registrars shall have tLe power to take testimony touching the qualification of such applicants.
 Any person making application to the board of registrars for registration who fails to establish, by evidence, to the reasonable satisfaction of the board of registrars that he is qualified to register, may be refused registration. Have Right to Appeal. Any person to whom registration is de- nied shall have the right to appeal by giving security for costs, to be approved by the clerk of the Circuit court or court of Nike jurisdiction, and by filing a peti- tion in the Circuit court or court of like jurisdiotion. held for the county in which he seeks to register, to have his qualifi- cations as an elector determined. Any person registered as an elector shall not again be required to register un- kless his place of residence Is changed. The board of registrars shall meet In each county on the second Monday in Au- gust, 1904, and on such day each two years thereafter for purg1ng the regIstra- tion list and may continue in session for one week.
 Names to Be Stricken. The names of those who have died, be- come insane, or who have been convicted of any offense mentioned in article Is2 of the constitution since being registered or otherwise disqualified as electors un- der the provisions of the constitution, and any names which may have been fraud ulently entered on such list by the regis trars shall be stricken from the regis tration list
 The names of those registered since January l, 1903, and who since the date of their registration have not been of good moral character and do not under stand the dutues and obligations of citi- zenship under republican form of gov- ernment shall be stricken from the reg istration list.
 The Election Law.
 Changes are made in the statutes with reference to the time of electing the df- ferent officers, state and county, to con- form to the changes made in the consti- tuition.
 Each political party having made nom- nations may, by it's county executive committee or nominees for office. furnish the appointing board list of not less than four names and from each of said lists an inspector and clerk shall be ap- pointed, provided that where there are more than two lists filed the appointment shall be made from the lists presented by the two political parties having re- ceived the highest number of votes in the next proceeding election if such parties present lists.
 The appointing board is composed of the judge of probate, sheriff and clerk of the Circuit court and are required at least twenty days before holding an election to appoint three inspectors and two clerks for each place of voting and returning officer for each precinct.
 Each political party having candidates l nominated may, by it's county executive | committed or nominees for office, or beat 1 committeeman, name a watcher, who | shall be permitted to be present from the | time the polls are opened untif the bal lots are counted and certificate of the 1 result of the election signed by the in- spectors. The said watcher shall be per mitted to see the ballots as they are | called during the count. Each ballot shall | fo l her of the voter voting the same on the 1 poll list. The numbering is to be placed on the back of the ballot in ink, and 1t Is | made a misdemeanor for any person to l compare the number on the ballot with i the number on the poll list, provided this shall not apply in contested election cases.
 A voter may write his name on the face of his ballot
 After the ballots have been counted | they shall be securely sealed in box or I other receptacle and turned over to the returning officer who shall deliver them to the sheriff together with the returns I of the election. The sheriff shall keeI | and properly preserve said ballots for six l months, and in case of a contested cleo | ton shall keep and properly preserve l said ballots until said contest is finally determined
 Immediately after the election the In l spectors shall pest in front of the pollins l place a copy of their certificate of tho | result of the election.
 l The markers as provided for by tho | Sayre election law are eliminated. anc | any voter may retire from the voting place to prepare his ballot
 When the judge of probate. sheriff ol l clerk of the Circuit court is a candidat, for reelection he shall not serve on tn, appointing board.
 THE HOUSE.