The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-11-03
MANY MAKE MISTAKES IN
MARKING BALLOT.
Are You Sure You Know How to Pre-
pare Your Ballot So 1t Will
Re Counted?

pare Your Ballot So 1t Will
BE Counted?
At every election there are many
ballots thrown out by the judge OF
election because the voters do not
know how to mark the ballots so
that they will be legal in every re-
spect and counted by the judges. Be-
low are given general instructions
regarding the marking of ballot:
Give your name, and place OF resi-
dence, if required, to the judges of
the election, one of whom shall an
nounce the name in loud and dis
tinct tone of voice, and If you are
duly registered lin cities where reg
istration is required and If your vote
Is not challenged, you will be per-
mitted to go inside of the guard rail.
When inside of the guard rail, you
will obtain from one of the judges
an official ballot, on the back OF
which the initials of the judge are
endorsed. If constitutional a.
mendment or other public measure
is to be voted upon, a separate bal
lot of yellow colored paper will also
be given you. NO OTHER BALLOT
CAN BE USED. Having obtained
ballot, or ballots, retire at once
alone to one of the voting booths,
and mark your ballots as herein
after stated, and fold it, or them,
so as to conceal the marks and ex-
pose the official endorsement on the
back, and deliver it, or them, to a
Judge of the election. If, in mark
M ~
it to the Judge and he will give you
another, and if that be spoiled, de-
liver that also to the Judge and he
will give you third one. But II
you spoil that, you cannot obtain any
other. You shall not remain in the
voting booth more than five minutes.
nor in the space inside of the guard
rail more than ten minutes and must
leave it as soon as you have voted.
If, after you receive ballot, you
decide not to vote, you must sur
render the ballot to the judges of the
election. A refusal to do so will sub
ject you to arrest and punishment
There is only one method of mark
ing the ballot, viz: By marking a
cross in the square opposite the
name of each candidate for whom
you wish to vote. If you mark a
cross in the square opposite the name
of more candidates than can be
elected to any Office, your vote as to
that Office will not be counted. Do
not scratch out or cancel with pen
or pencil any name on the ballot.
face, any ticket which you do not
vote. In marking the cross, the
lines should be made to cross each
other inside of the square. Put no
marks of any kind on the ballot
other than the cross in the squares
opposite the names of the candi-
dates for whom you wish to vote,
except as stated in the following
paragraph:
If you wish to vote for some per-
son whose name is not printed on
the ballot, you can write his name in
the appropriate blank and mark a
cross in the square opposite thereto.
If there is no appropriate
space and square on the ballot, you
can interline the name of the can
didate for your choice in the proper
place and make a square opposite
and to the left of his name, and mark
a cross therein. The writing of the
name of a candidate upon the ticket
without making cross opposite
thereto, or the marking of a cross OPP
posite the blank space on the ticket
without writing a name therein, will
not affect the validity Of your vote.
For voting upon a constitutional a.
mendment or other public measure.
a separate ballot of yellow paper is
Used. At the top thereof in brackets
is the following: Notice to voters:
For an Affirmative vote upon any
question submitted upon this ballot.
mark a cross in the square after
the word YES" For negative
vote, make a similar mark in the
square following "No.") In some
counties some propositions Of local
interest may also be on the ballot.
Opposite each proposed measure are
the words "Yes," NO." with squares
following-at the right hand. Be
careful to mark cross in the proper
square opposite each proposition for
which you wish to vote, or against
which you wish to vote, as above
indicated.
If you cannot read the English
language, or because of any physical
disability are unable to mark your
ballot, make known that fact to the
judges. You will then be sworn to
the truth of your statement, and
two of the election Officers, desig-
mated by the judges, will enter the
voting booth with you, and shall
mark the ballot for you as you may
direct. Intoxication will not be re-
garded az physical disability. and
If you are intoxicated, no assistance
in marking your ballot will be given.
Any erasures or naturalization marks
or. otherwise spelling or defacing
ballot will render 1t invalid. Hence,
If you have marked . cross in Z
square which you did not intend to
mark or have by accident or mistake
made any mark, blot. or in any way.
defaced, soilea Or torn the ballot,
return TO the Judges and obtain
another, as above directed. Do not
write your name on the ballot, or
put any mark or sign upon it by
which which it can be identified as
the ballot which you have voted. Any