The San Francisco call., 1903-01-23
A VOTING MACHINE BILL

= ENAIOR kNOWLAND has introduced into
the Legislature 4 bill authorizing the use OF
- balloting machines in all elections be held in
the State, and providing rules and regulations for
their requirement and use. The bill is timely one
for there has been almost universal dissatisfaction with
the present system OF voting and the people will
gladly hail anything that promises relief
The bill is not mandatory. 1t does not compel the
adoption OF machine voting, in any county or city
but authorizes such voting wherever the community
desires il For the purpose Of placing the selection of
machines under proper supervision the bill provides
that within thirty days after the passage OF the act the
Governor shall appoint commission OF three mem
bers to examine and make report upon all machines
OF the kind that may be submitted for inspection The
commissioners are to hold office Tor FIVE years; and it
provided that mo member OF said board shall have
any pecuniary interest directly or indirectly in any
voting machine; one member Of said board shall be a
mechanical expert"
Any person or corporation interested in a voting
machine may apply to the State commission to ex-
anime the machine and report on its compliance with
the requirements OF the aW, and It's accuracy eff
cheney and capacity to register the will OF the voters
Upon such application the commission IS required to
make examination and report whether in the opin-
ion OF any members the machine so examined can
be safely used at elections II the report be favorable
the machine shall be deemed to have been approved
by the commission, and shall be thus author
ized but if the report be adverse the machine shall
not be available for adoption.
Il Is provided further that each person corpora
ton submitting machine for examination shall de-
post the Of $3.50 and out OF such sums all ex-
penses OF the commission OF whatever kind shall be
betrayed. Thus the establishment OF the commission
will entail no expense upon the taxpayers.
The act goes provide: NO voting machine
shall be approved unless be constructed as to pro-
vide facilities for voting for candidates OF as many dif-
ferent parties organizations may make nomna-
uons for Office; and for against as many different
questions or amendments as may be submitted nor
shall any such machine be approved unless the same
will permit the voter vote for any person for any
Office although the name Of the person does not ap-
pear on the machine as a nominated candidate"
Other requirements provide for ample liberty OF
choice in voting straight tickets or splitting them at
the option Of the voter; the section closing with the
requirement: ANY machine to be approved by said
board must be OF such kind, style or pattern as will
permit the exercise by each Of the full right and
privilege of his elective franchise under constitu-
ton and laws OF the State"
After providing for the kind OF ballots to be en-
ployed authorizing any political party to adopt an
emblem other than the flag OF the United States. and
prescribing the duties OF the election officers the bill
suthorizes-Ocal governments to adopt any approved
machine for in any election Thus while the State
commission is vested with power approve or con-
denim any machine offered with the local gov
ernments TO select which they prefer OF those that
have been approved
The bill has been carefully drawn, and the whole
IS an excellent one, but it is not likely that all of its
details will be universally approved Attention is
called 10 therefore in order that its various pro-
visions may be closely scrutinzed better system OF
bsllotng is urgently needed and it is to be hoped
no mistakes VIII be made in adopting new law and
new system.