The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-12
ELECTION RErORM BILL.
Measure Drafted by q NOn-Partisan Con-
ference to Be Introduced To-day.

Measure Drafted by q NOn.Parusan COn-
ference, TO Be Introduced To-day.
ALBANY, March ll.-There will be in
troduced into the Assembly on Monday
night by Ezra p. Prentice Of Manhattan
a bill e~mbodying important amendments
TO the election law. This bill has been
drafted by a conference Of representatives
of the Republican and Democratic parties
and the Municipal Ownership League and
OF the Republican Club, at we'll as OF the
Citizens Union, Civic Club, Reform CUB
Brooklyn League and other civic g
cations The provisions OF the Dill are
in general, as follows:
The bill provides for the Australian ballot
as used by Massachusetts, since 1885, VIII
the addition, however, OF party emblems.
The ballot L. also subdivided into voting
sections by perforated lines, each ohoe
constituting a voting section. Inc pur-
pose OF this is to permit each section 70 %
limiting i~nvalidating marks and the IN.
evitable Contingencies arising out or the
counting Of ballots to a single section IN
stead OF their involving the entire ballot
as now, With this change from the party
counting arising under the existing law
disappear. The voter marks each can
didate for whom he desires to vote. W.hile
this takes q little longer to vote q straight
ticket, the names are 80 easily found that
the time REQUIRED to vote has been sSnrt i0S Snd
in the case of split votes the time Is fire.
quently reduced. ,r
There Is a separate presidential ballot
which is voted substantially, like the pres.
ent ballot, l., O., the, presidential oallos
in rare instances the voter is not voting
really for presidential electors but is voting
for the presidential candidates at the head
Of the ticket. ,
The bill also separates the local candidates
! from the State candidates, a separate ballot
being provided for each class. For ex,
ample, In New York city all municipal
officers would go on one ballot ana al
other officers, which would inolude county,
officers and Judges Of the Supreme Court and
Is designed partly for convenience In hand
ling the ballots and partly to further en-
phasiae in the mind OF the voter the separa-
ton between municipal and State AFFAIRS
which has been adopted as a part OF the
Constitution OF the State.
The bill also meets the need Of a better
class OF election officers by requiring them
TO pass q civil service examination. In
cities the examination must be held under
the direction Of the local Civil Service Com
mission but In accordance with rules
adopted by the State civil Service Commis.
sion. Elsewhere the examinations are held
under the direction Of the State commits
sion.
The tally sheet Is much simpllfled and i'm
proved. At present the official !al,y sneet
temporaneous tally sheets are manufao,
tured in the polling places and afterward
the official tally sheet is filed out from those
that lave been actually used. This is be-
cause the existing tally sheets are SO enor-
nous In size as to defy practical use. The
Prentice Elsberg bill provides FOR q separ-
ate tally for each Office and In this way
really cuts up the existing tally sheet INTO
small practical sections. The tally ID also
self-proving.
statements OF votes are much improved
like the tally sheet. A separate return u
required for each Office and like the tally
sheet it Is self-proNng. The bill also re-
quires the returns to oe sworn 70 ana lol
this purpose permits the election officers 70
administer the oath TO each other,
In cities of the first GLASS the bill provides
that the inspectors and tally clerks who
nave served during the day shall be super
seeded at the close of the polls by an en-,
tirelv fresh set OF officers. The purpose o.
this is to attract Il more expert class OF
election officers TO the work or ~canvassine
and counting the votes than ~ now possible
Under the new bill no ballots or papers
are DESTROYED that nave been used in the
election. Even the spoiled ballots are re
tanned, so that the entire work Of the cleo
ton can be checked up from the origina
papers II necessary.
The number Of required signatures fol
independent nominations Is cut down to
reasonable number and a number OF cases
of nominations which the existing law doe
not provide for at all are covered.
The association has also drafted anothe
bill which wac introduced some days ag'
by Senator Elsberg, which provides for
recount. The provisions of the existing Law
nrevent any judicial review of the vote OK
cept by quo warranto proceedings and IL
effect amount to a denial of a review b!
the courts. The new bill amends this an
provides for a correct and exceedingl,
simple ~recanvass Of the ballots cast, all I'm
Jisputed ballots being simply checked VI
by a commissioner appointed by the conr
and only disputed ballots coming befor
The count.