Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-01-31
THE STATE PRIMARY BILL.
Synopsis Ct the Measure Now Before the
Iowa Legislature.

OI the proposed primary Dill as III
troduced in the Iowa Legislature b,
Senator Crossley. 1t is worth care
full reading, after which we feel SUR
that our readers will at once declare
themselves opposed to such a com.
plicated method of nominating can
didates. This law would practically
do away with any but the republican
part in this county, and would pre-
vent the nomination of the best mel
in MANY cases, who would not consen
to have a canvass made to place theil
names on the primary ticket. There
are various other reasons for opposins
the measure. Read it, and they will
be readily apparent:
Statewide primary second Tuesday
in August, biennially.
All officers included from township
to United States senator
Registration of afflliation of voters
required ON general election poll books
Voters not there registered may file
| affidavits OF party affiliation thirty
days before primary.
All parties hold primaries same dav.
Convention made canvassing bodies
to declare results.
General election officers the officers
of primary election.
Law applies to municipal officers in
cities of more than 5000.
Expenses of primary paid half by
county, half by state.
Penalties for violation of law,
| bribery, ETC., same as in general
election law.
The bill contains the following i'm
pOrtanr details in addition to those
outlined above.
The Australian ballot system as now
used shall be used at the primary
with the following changes:
The circle shall be omitted and
voters must mark in squares opposite
the name of each person for whom he
desires to vote.
In all years except 1906, any qualified
voter emitted to vote in the precinct
may vote at the primary election if
he has designated the political party
with which he desires to affiliate at
the preceding general election and
shall receive ballot Of such puiftical
party as is determined by the poll
books OF the last preceding general
election in which he has recorded his
utilization. He shall he allowed to vote
for the candidates of but one political
party. the one with which he is reg
istered as affiliating.
Those who fail to register their
party affiliations may have their names
registered and be permitted to vote,
and first voters, or citizen casting
his first vote in the state, shall be
allowed to vote upon declaring on
oath his political affiliation.
A person changing his residence
within the state may show his party
affiliations by certificate from the
county auditor of the county where
he last voted.
election and fac simile of the auditor s
signature shall appear on the ballots
At the general election in November
every two years there shall be set
apart on the regular poll books space
for registration of all persons desiring
to take part in any primary held
thereafter. The judges of the general
election shall offer every voter print
ed blanK on which he must enter his
name and make a cross mark in the
square before the name of the politicsl
party with which he desires to affiliate.
The voter may seal this blank in a
thick envelope and deposit it in a box
for that purpose before the judges
If the voter does not care to affiliate,
his blank must he deposited in said
box, though unmarked. After the
canvass of the voters the Judges must
record these declarations upon the
poll books in the column prepared
therefor. IF the voter refuses to de-
Glaze his affliation it is no bar to his
voting at an election except the pri-
mary election. If any voters
afhliation is not recorded, or he de-
sires to change the same, he may do it
not less than thirty days nor more
than forty days before the date of the
primary by filing an. affidavit with
the county auditor stating his desired
afiliation ana record of the same shall
be made on the poll books by the
auditor. Absence, sickness or any
other calamity. preventing the filing
of such an affidavit. or any one who
shall move into the precinct after such
time may register at the polls by
making affidavit before the officers of
such primary election, giving caase
for failure to register atfiliation. In
such case he must produce the affida-
Wits of two we'll known, reputable elec-
tors who are residents and free holders
OF the precinct, supporting his state
ments.
These poll books shall be delivered
to .the primary election board by the
auditor at least one day prior to the
primary, and must be returned to the
county auditor at least ten days after
the primary.
The name of no candidate shall
appear on the official ballot unless a
nomination paper has been filed in
the Office of the auditor of the county
at least thirty days prior to the pri-
mary, ii he is candidate for Office
to be filled by the voters of the county,
or at least forty days prior if he is a
candidate for an Office to be filed by
the voters of more than one county,
in which case the nomination paper
must be filed with the secretary of
state. Nomination papers must be
signed bv the affidavit of qualified
elector. stating that he Is personally
acquainted with all the persons who
have signed the same and that they
affiliate with the party named there