The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-02-21
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW

sons 81 the Main Features OF the
New Law That 10 to be
Used This Spring.
Under the new primary law our
party candidates for state, judicial
and county offices are to be nomi-
mated by the direct primary OF the
party. United States senators are
also selected by the direct vote
which serves as an instruction to the
legislature. The law does not APP
ply to municipal, town, township and
school district officers unless the
voters by a majority vote SO direct.
When Held.
The primary election is held in
each precinct at the regular polling
place on the second Tuesday in June
between the hours OF 8 and 5 O'Clock,
and working men are entitled to time
on to vote.
Petitions for State Ticket.
Candidates for United, States sem
ator, congress; state offices and
Judges of the circuit court must, in
order to have their name printed on
the official primary ballot, file a Pc
tition with the secretary of state at
least six weeks before the primary.
Said petitions must be signed by not
less than N nor more than s per
cent Of the party vote of their re-
spective judicial districts.
Petitions for County Ticket.
Candidates for any county legisla-
tive Office. or for a member of the
party state central committee, must
likewise file a nominating petition
with: the county auditor at least
thirty days before the primary, sign
led by not less than three nor more
than five per cent of the voters of
the party In the county. Delegates
to state conventions are chosen In.
8thessarne manner The law also per-
Hmits candidates for state conventions
10 unite under a common motto and
Join In one petition to have their
snamess appear on the official ballot
under that motto.
No person car sign the petition
Oftwoscandidates for the same nomi-
nation IA the same Office.
Precinct Committees.
Each ballot sshas a space In which
thesvoter can write his choice; of
precinct committeeman.
Fees for Filing Petitions.
a Tee for filing nominating petit.
tons is charged, which@is turned in
u the general fund and used to de-
fray the expense Of printing ballots
and conducting the primary. The
fee8varies on the state ticket. For
senator, congress, governor, and
members OF the supreme court the
Zee is. $50. From this the fees run
down through the various Offices to
the lieutenant governor, who is low
est at SO.
For county offices the following
nominating fees must be paid to the
county auditor.
Treasurer auditor, sheriff and
register Of deeds, SIS each.
County Judge. states attorney,
clerk Of counts and superintendent.
$40 each.
Commissioner. coroner and survey
sor. IS each.
legislature. either house, IS.
Constable. Justices and delegates
to state convention or members Of
state central committee. 81.
S# The Election.
The auditor has the tickets print
al aud delivered to the precinct
Judges, who are appointed by, the
auditor, each Judge to be Of different
political parties. The county pays the
judges the same as for general cleo
tions. The Judges choose two clerks.
Each party has ballots of different
color. Members Of each party call
for their party ballot, mark the can
sdidates9 they wish nominated. and de-
81 Osit# ~ I'M q ballot box. The vote
~ canvassed the same as in general
elections, and the same rules regard
ing electioneering, selling liquors.
etc, are In force. The returns are
sent 20 the county auditor. and he,
together with the county judge and
clerk aof courts, canvasses the vote
sof the county.
5s@A destinations.
70 ecure the oficial nomination
acandidate must have the highest
number Of yotesscast and more than
so per cent Of the total vote. IN case
no Scandidate receives more than 80
percent OF the total vote, there Is
no nomination. and the nominee Is
schosensfrom among the primary cam
didates ~ county q state conven-
gttonsssSassthe case may be-, delegates