Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-01-30
HOW 1T WORKS
The City Attorney Explains Primary
Election Law Features.


letter for the information of the public
relative to the the workings of the
primary election law, which will be
tried in Wausau for the first time at the
coming spring election:
WAUsAU, WIS, Jan. "a, 1906.
ChdS. Il. Beck, City Clerk, City.
Dear Sir: Replying TO your inquiry
as to the mode of procedure under the
primary election law for the election to
be held upon the Sd day of April, 1906,
desire to say:
Under the provisions of chapter 2, spe-
cial session 1905, it is the duty of the
mayor of every city TO nominate to the
common council at their first regular
meeting in February of each year in
which general election is to be held
three persons for inspectors of election,
two for clerks of election and two for
ballot clerks in each election district.
The qualifications of these election Of
fcers are prescribed by said chapter 2.
They are to be appointed from list to
be submitted to the mayor of the city
for that purpose by the regular city
committee OF the two parties which cast
the largest vote in each of the several
election districts of the city at the last
general election, the basis in each case
to be the vote of the party for the presi-
dental elector receiving the largest
vote from the last preceding presiden-
tial election.
1t is the duty of the chairman of the
ward committee of each of the several
political parties to present to the city
committee list of names for election
officers to be appointed from his ward.
These names shall be in turn certified
to the mayor by the chairman and Sec
retary of the city committee. Upon the
making of such nominations the same
shall be submitted to the common coun-
Gil and be approved or disapproved. If
they are dis&pproved it will become the
duty OF the mayor to Immediately NOM
mate another person selected from the
list provided as above, until the neces-
sary number of election officers have
been appointed and approved
The persons so appointed and quail
fed will hold their Offices for two years
and until their successors are elected
and qualified.
Part 2 Of section of chapter As pro-
vides that all primaries other than the
September primaries shall be held two
weeks before the election, so that the
primary election for the city of Wau-
sau will be held on the 10th day OF
March, 1906 Notice of this primary
election should be given not more than
20 nor less than 10 days before such pri-
mary election in the manner prescribed
by section 4 of chapter 451 of the laws
If 1908.
Persons desiring to be candidates for
offices to be filled at the election to be
held April Sd, must be nominated as
such at the primary election.
Persons who desire to become candi-
dates for nominations at the primary
election must file their nomination pa
pers therefor at least Is days prior to
the date OF the primary election. A list
of ali canuidaJes to be voted for at the
primary election must be posted and
published at least ter days prior to the
date of the primary election and the Of
fetal ballot to be used at the primary
election must be printed at least four
days prior to the day of the primary
election. Chapter 359, laws of l905.)
Parties desiring TO be candidates at
the primary election must be nominated
by nomination papers signed by at least
3 per cent. of the party vote and not
more than 10 per cent. of the party vote
for ward office and by at least per
cent. and not more than 10 per cent of
the total party vote in at least one-sixth
of the election precincts of the city.
That would be from at least 2 wards.
The basis of percentage is the vote
Of the party for the presidential elector
airyiR hn 1nr of 10
presidential election. Nom
ination papers may be filed also for nom
partisan candidates. Such papers shall
contain at least 2 per cent. and not more
than 10 per cent. of the total vote cast
at the last preceding general election
in the political subdivision in which
the person is a candidate, the signers
to be distributed the same as signers
for party nominations.
In all cities except cities of the first
class, every primary election day and
the Monday next preceding, are regis
tration days, where registration is re-
quired.
While there is some doubt, am of the
opinion that the safer course would be to
hold registra tion day unless an o~di-
nance or resolution can be adopted, pur-
suant to section "A of the statutes of 1898,
making other provision in regard there
to. 1t will be your duty to provide the
necessary blanks for the primary cleo
tion the same as for general election.
Section Ii of Chapter 451 of the laws of
1903 provides that all ballots, blanks and
other supplies to be used at any pri-
mary, and all expenses necessarily in
Cured in the preparation for or con-
Quoting such primary shall be paid out
Of the treasury of the city in the same
manner, by the same officer, as in the
case Of elections. While you would
not be required to furnish the
blanks for nomination papers, it would
be better in the interest of
the public that the city furnish such
blanks, so that they will be uniform in
form and size and so that they would
thereby be open to all alike. The no.
tices and other proceedings are sub
stantially the same for primary as for
general elections, and the procedure
therefor is embodied in Chapter 451 of
the laws of 1908; Chapter 424 of the
laws of 1905 Chapter 359 of the laws of
1905, and Chapters 2, and of the laws
Of the special session of 1905.
There seems to be no prescribed
method of choosing members of the
city committee, or for choosing the
chairman of the city committee. The
law expressly provides, however, that
the present committeeman shall hold
their offices until their successors are
chosen under the act I have written
the attorney general for an opinion
upon this question and upon receipt of
the same will duly advise you. In or
der to make the proceeding clear, you
will take the following example -
Supposing that John Jones, a demo-
crat, desires to run for alderman for the
first ward. There were 155 votes cast for
elector in the first ward. He must be
nominated by a petition signed by not
less than three per cent, which would
be by not less than 5, nor more than ten
per cent, which would be 10. If John
Smith, a republican from the same
ward. desired to run for alderman, he
would have to be nominated by petit
tion signed by not less than three per
cent OF l79, which is the total number
OF votes cast for Roosevelt, which would
be not less than and not more than II,
being ten per cent of the total number