The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-23
THE NEW BALLOT LAW.

Ill ~ DtLLOI LAW
Such an extraordinary number of defective ballots were found
by the state returning board after the election of 1904 that public
sentiment a aroused and crystaHzed in a demand for a change in
the method of voting, which it was believed was responsible for the
Acknowledgement of such a large per centage of the electors who had
undertaken to discharge their duties a citizens at the polls That
there was good ground for the demand for a change that would SIM
pliiy and render the system of voting less complicated all citizens
will readily admit who recall the results of the official count of the
ballots in the first congressional district last year.
In that district 38,7ss votes were cast, 7758 of which were not
counted-4I5S because they were blank and 1895 because they were
pronounced defective by the returning board. Thus it happened that
nearly twenty per cent. of the electorate was disranchised either
through quirks or bubbles in the law as construed by the returning
board or by carelessness IT want of information on the part OF the
voters. Such wholesale Acknowledgement "a all the more surprs-
ing when it showed an increase in detectives SO great during a decade
instead of a steady decrease, as was predicted would be the case
when the secret ballot law became better understood by the citizens.
In 1893 and 1894 the number of defective ballots averaged only 10
or 2 per cent; yet after the lapse of ten years with all the opportuni-
ties the intervening time allowed for a closer acquaintance with the
requirements of the ballot law, the number of votes not counted had
mounted to an amazing total of 20 per cent, or about one-ffth of
the aggregate cast.
1t was this fact that led to the attempt to simplify the ballot law
which was embodied in the Enactment of April Goth of the present
year. Whether the desired result will be achieved remains to be seen
whether dsfranchisement through quibbles, through ignorance or
carelessness will be reduced or increased by the new law cannot be
determined until the votes are canvassed after the November election.
1t is the duty OF every citizen, however, to faniiarize himself
with the new system and to study it so thoroughly that when he goes
to the polls on November 7 next he will be able to mark his ballot so
that it will be effective S to every candidate he desires to support.
1t is for the purpose of providing this much-needed and important
Information that The News on the first page of today's issue gives an
elaborate explanation of the new law, with IN extended statement as
TO the proper marking of ballots.
There are some points that need special emphasis. For the first
time the elector will be enabled to vote a straight ticket by making a
single cross. To do this he has only to put the cross in the circle
that will be found under the party symbols star for the Democracy
and an eagle for the Republicans. If, after making this cross, he dis
covers in the list of candidates below one for whom he does not desire
20 vote he must draw a line through the name of such candidate and
put a cross in the square opposite the name of some other candidate
sires to vote he will find at the right Of the ballot under the desgna-
ton of the office a blank space in which he must write in full the
name of the candidate of his choice, at the same time putting a cross
beside II in the square provided for that purpose.
This matter is Of special importance 70 independent voters, of
whom there are many thousands in the state, whose ballots have been
elections. Independents will observe also that if they do not put a
cross in any Of the circles under party symbols or designations they
can make their ballots effective by putting a cross opposite the name
Of each candidate they wish 10 support. That is TO say, by avoiding
the use of the circle to indicate preference, they can make their ballots
effective by marking them in the same manner they have heretofore
done-that is, by putting a cross opposite the name Of one candidate
for each Office no matter in which party column the name may appear.
When a citizen votes in this way he is not required 20 mark out the
names of candidates whom de does not wish TO support.
1t is the duty Of every man qualified to exercise the franchise to