The Pensacola journal., 1908-10-30
Some Pertinent
Election Law Questions.


tains some very pertinent questions
that should be studied and answered
by every election clerk or inspector
in the state:
Editor Pensacola Journal.
Please answer through The Journal
for the information of inspectors gen.
orally, the following questions, to-wit:
First Is it the duty Of the Super
visor of Registration to furnish the
inspectors at each precinct a list OF
all qualified voters living in said pre-
cinct? Now it often happens that a
voter is able to produce his poll tax
receipts for the two years predicting
the election year. yet through negli-
gence for otherwise) his name does
not appear on the precinct registra-
tion book. Now what are the duties
of the inspectors in such a case?
Second Should voter make his
Y mark after the name instead of be-
fore it, and is the ticket thrown out
on that account? II is apparent that
the voters Intentions are honest and
why not should they be regarded so?
Third. Should a voter mark his
ticket wrong in any one place-say
by voting for two sets of presidential
eIeetors-is the whole ticket to be
cancelled?
Fourth. Kindly inform us just who
.he inspectors are allowed to assist
IN making their ballots, and oblige,
d. w. WHITwORTH.
Bagdad, Fla.
The Journal takes pleasure in
answering the above questions. so far
as it is able to do so. and will answer
Them in the order in which they are
asked.
First. II is the duty of the super.
visor of registration to furnish at
each precinct a list OF all qualified
error. the elector may exhibit his poll
tax receipt. or his restoration certifi-
cate" 70 be furnished by the super.
visor of registration (Section 1872,
f<A~St4Oi law - hC bN
allowed to vote.
Second. We do not know of any
case where this question has been
tested and iudicially answered. The
law says the mark (X) must be be-
fore, or at the left of the candidates
name. (Section 2S0). There is a
question whether a contrary way of
marking the ballot would be legal, even
though the voters intentions may be
clear. 1t is just possible that a man
who would sell hiS vote, might mark
his ballot as our correspondent sug-
gests. for the purpose of proving that
he had delivered the goods" The
law as ii is provides for a uniform
system of secret voting under which
such evidence Of Identification would
be impossible. and a strict construe-
ton OF the law We think would be
best
Third. Section 2S5 of the election
law provides: 'If the elector marks
more names than there are persons
to be elected to an ofice, or IL for
any reason it is impossible TO de
termine the electors choice for any
ONCE to be filled, his ballot shall not
be counted for such Office, but this
shall not vitiate the ballot, SO far as
properly marked, and nothing herein
shall be construed to prevent any
elector from voting for any qualified
person other than those whose names
are printed on the ballot"
Fourth Section 2S1 of the election
law reads as follows: ANY elector
applying to vote who by reason of
blindness or the loss of use of his
hand or hands is unable to prepare
his ballot, may have the assistance
of the inspectors in the preparation
oil MS ballot, who shall retire to a
booth or compartment with the elect
Or and there prepare the electors bal
lot. so as to indicate the electors de-
clared choice of candidates as to each
office to be filed, without suggestion
Or interference from inspectors. But
In all cases any eleetor before retir.
Ing TO the booth as provided in this
section may have one of the clerks o.
the election TO read over to him the