Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-02-13
TO REVOLUTIONlZE
THE PRlrlARlES

Tad3 by Senator Taylor Oi GIehNoo1
Springs which aims to throw around
primary elections for the nomination
of officers all the safeguards provided
al general elections. and thus 10 rem
der impossible the easy manipulation OF
primaries. which is the weakest spot In
cur present system Of popular govern
Ment.
Following is a synopsis Of the pro-
visions Of the bill. which is OF eonsid-
erabie length and very careful aud spe-
cinc In all the details involved in its
operation:
Section ] provides that a primary
election shall be held within the sew
efal pfeeinets Gt the territory Tor
which officers are 10 be elected seven
weeks preceding an election for the
purpose Of nominating all officers ex-
o.pt state Officers and that such
primary election shall constitute and
10 In lieu Of the iiTst day OF resistra-
tion as now provided BY Law. sub5e-
ausnt registration days remaining as
st present.
Section prezeribss that a political
party. within the meaning OF III. act.
Is one which shall hay. east at least
ten per cent OF the total vote east At
the last preceding election for Its lead
Ing candidate. Nominations for eandi-
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 4 declares that at least
twenty days before the primary elee-
iion day any person seeking an once
shall appear before the secretary OF
state. II the oiiiee IL to lie voted for In
more than On. eouniy. or the county
clerk II voted for in a single county.
with an affidavit that II is his bona fide
Intention To run for the nomination for
any specified oi,iee. and upon payment
To the secretary al state OF $50. or In
ease he goes bcfof. the county clerk.
Of $40. hts name shall be placed on the
primary election ballot. All fees paid
To the secretary al state arc To be d.
s!dcd among the counties taking part
In the election. A form for tho nomi-
nation AFFIDAVIT Ia prescribed In the
bill.
Section . provides that on the nine
'ecnth day before the primary election
III. secretary of state shall certify to
the county clerks and recorders OF the
several counties the names Of all quail
lied candidates Of ail the political
parties. and on the Iourtscnih day be-
fore the primary election the county
clerk and recorder shall prepare nj
once In writing n separate ballot for
the candle .ttes Of each party. grouped
by themselves. aud publish the same
twice In the Official paper uf his county.
This section also prcscribcs the form
OF the ballot.
Section s provides that Judges Of
election In each precinct shall b. dcs-
i.nated In the samc manner ns now
provided by law. and further provides
case of emergency.
Section . provides that on the pri-
mary election day the judges and
clerks Of election shall perform both
the duties OF the board OF registration
ns prescribed by the registration law
Of the state md the duties OF Judges
and clerks OF primary election. but
shall only receive single pay.
Section 10 prcscribcs that the regis
| tcrs provided by the general rcgiHtrn-
tion law OF the state shall have an ad-
ditional column headed. Voted. Pri-
mary Elcction." 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 bcard.
Section II prcscribcs the quaiifica-
tons of voters. The voter must be
registered according to law and Is then
entitled to receive n ballot of the polit-
ical party which he then declares tun-
der oath. II his right thereto is chai-
| lcngcd that he Is affiliated with.
Section Is specifies the manner OF
marking ballot.
Section 16 relates to the manner of
casting a ballot.
Section IL prcscribcs the prciimi-
| naries to be observed before proceed
Ing to count the ballots. blank being
prepared by the Judges and clerks. to
he sent to the county clerk. giving the
numbers of persons present ut 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.
Section 20 relates to the making out
of returns.
Section 90 relates to the report of
the canvassing board. The board shall
make and sign 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 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 n tie the
determination is to be by lot.
Provisions are made for notifying
the candidates nominated.
Section 90 states that the state can
Vassing board as now provided for
shall be the canvassing board under
this act for officers voted for in more
than one county. Upon the completion
of the canvass the secretary of state
, shall certify tO the spyeraI co,n,,