Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-11-06
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.
Senator Gibson's Measure Intro
duced on FRIDAY


Senator f. w. Gibson presented bill
in the Senate on Friday afternoon which
does away with caucuses and conven-
tions and changes to system of primar,
elections. All nominations must b,
made by the primaries of the party or by
nomination papers. No names will be
placed On the official ballot unless so
nominated; this Jaw shall apply after
January /. 1910. Primaries shall be held
the third Tuesday in June. To take ad-
vantage of this law parties must poll one
per cent. of total vote. Nomination pa
pers for state officers, United States SEN
ators and represe natives must contain
at least the required one per cent of le-
gal voters in the party and be filed with
the secretary of state for county officers
with the county clerk, for town represen-
tative with the town clerk.
Candidates for the United States Sen
ate shall also be voted for on the prima-
ry day when a senator is 10 be elected by
the next legislature. In all cases there
will be separate ballot for each party
and the names of the various candidates
for any Office will be arranged in alpha
betical order. There will be blank spaces
| in which names can be written. No
person can vote at the primaries whose
| name is not on the check list but those
who will be of voting age before the reg
ular election day may have their names
placed on the check list to vote at the
primary.
The ballots shall be distributed to the
various town clerks by the county clerks
of the various counties. On the Friday
following primary election the county
clerk shall canvass the returns in the
county and send the accurate returns of
4. Ia r. IA Init nI
States senators and representatives in
congress to the secretary of state. On
the second Tuesday in July the secretary
of state shall canvass the returns and
publish certified copy of the votes of
each candidate. In case there is one
nomination to be made for the office des-
ignated the person receiving the greatest
number of votes at a primary election for
the nomination to such office shall be the
candidate of the party for such Office
and his name shall be placed on the off
cial ballot for the ensuing election. The
name of United States senator shall not
be placed on the official ballot but the
one receiving the greatest number of
votes shall be declared the nominee of
his party for the place
In case there are two or more nOmina-
tions to be made, such as assistant judges,
state senators or justices of the peace,
the candidates corresponding in number
to the offices to be filled having the great
est number of votes shall be the nominee
of the party for such Offices.
The bill provides for itemized state
ments of the amount expended in the
campaign to be filed within 10 days after
the primary. The statement in the case
of state officers shall be filed with the
secretary of state, county offices with the
county clerk and if for smaller subdiv-
lsion than county, with the town clerk.
They must also give the names of those
authorized to spend money for them.
Candidates shall be limited in the am
cunt of expenditure as follows:-
United Slater senator or governor
$500.
Representatives to Congress or other
state offices. $1,000.
County offices, $3.50.
Representatives to General Assembly
! and justices of peace. $780,
For other offices 500
The act provides for the election at the
primaries of one committee man of a
party from each town and these several
town committeeman shall be the county
committee. The members shall elect a
chairman and these county chairmen
shall constitute the state committee.
A person who refuses or fails to file
these statements required, shall be fined
not less than $50 nor more than 5000 or
imprisoned not less than three months
nor more than year or both A candi-
date who expends more money or thing
of value than set forth IN the bill shall
be fined not less than 500 nor more than
$1,000 or be imprisoned not less than three
months nor more than one year or both.
Another section says: "a person who
solcits, requests, demands or receives,
directly or indirectly, any money, intox.
icating liquor or other thing of value,
or the promise thereof, either to influence
his vote or to be used, or under pretense
of being used, to procure the vote of any
person or persons or to be used at any
! poll or other place prior to or on the day
of a primary election for or against any
candidate for nomination at such prima-
ry election, shall be fined not more than
$500 or be imprisoned lot less than three
months nor more than one year