Norwich bulletin., 1910-09-29
MUCH INTEREST IN
THE NEW BALLOTS
Delegates to Conventions Have Talked
Long and Much Upon the Situation.

At the several conventions held in
this city in the past few weeks to name
candidates for office there has been d
good part of the time given to discuss
ing the new ballots and how to vote
them At the banuuets which have
followed the conventions it has been
the chief topic of talk. aside from the
merit of the candidates.
The secretary of state is receiving
numberleSS requests from town officials
for instruction concerning the opera
ton of the Australian ballot which is
to be used for the first time in Con-
necticut and which will have their
initial performance at the October
town elections. The process of split
ting a ticket is the feature on which
particular instruction is desired.
Those who wish to vote a split ticket
when it comes to selectmen and wish
to express a preference for the candi
date that they desire for first select
man, and those who wish to refrain
from voting for certain men. have
few things to learn, but there is a way
out of both of those difficulties and the
process of voting is not as difficult as
some anxious people think it is. The
final word on the Interpretation of the
law will rest with the courts after the
balloting has been done and questions
arise to be decided. Until then there
can be no authoritative Interpretation
of the law. The secretary of states
office suggests what it thinks is right
but it does not pretend to be a final
authority.
The following instructions may
throw light upon some of the questions
that have arisen:
How to Vote a Straight Ticket
Place an X in the circle above the
column which you wish to vote. Black
lead pencil only may be used. Fold up
the ballot in the same way that you
received it.
How to Vote a Split Ticket-Place
an X in the circle above the column
which you wish to vote in the main.
Then place an X in front of the name
of a candidate whose name appears in
another column for whom you wish to
vote This registers your vote for the
candidate checked and is equivalent to
Scra itching the corresponding name in
your own party column.
Take the above ballot as an example
and Hartford as the scene of opera
lions. as the apital town will elect
next month. You are republican and
wish to vote the entire republican
ticket with the exception of the candi-
date for assessor for which office YOU
prefer the democratic candidate. Place
an X above the republican column
and place an X before the name of
Edwin c. LOOMS, the democratic car
didate for assessor. Do not scratch
the name of Frederick n. Taylor. 1t
will invalidate your ballot and is I'M
necessary. You have already scratched
his name by making an y before the
name of Edwin c. Loomis, his oppo-
nent.
How to Vote for SeIectmen-You
may vote for two selectmen only Sup
posing you wish to split the ticket,
voting for republican and a demo-
crat-put an X before each of the two
names you wish to vote for notwith-
standing that you have already placed
an X at the head of the column.
For example: You wish to vote for
Fredus NJ. Case and John Giiligan for
seIectmen. Place an X before the name
of each.
How to Vote for Democratic and
Republican Candidate for Seectman
and Designate Which You Wish to Be
First Selectman-It may happen that
of the two men, a republican and dem
ocrat, whose names are opposite one
another each at the head of the list
of selectmen, you may wish the demo-
cratic candidate to be first selectman
Their than the republican candidate.
Put an y before the name YOU want
for first selectman and write the other
name in the blank column in the sec
ond space under the title of setectmen.
For example: You wish to vote for
Fredus NJ. Case and John Gilligan, but
wish to have John Giiligan first Sc
lectman. Place an y before John Gil
ligan's name and write Fredus NJ
Cases name III the second space under
Selectnen in the blank column.
How to Vote for Cons Ia bles--- 1t may
be that you wish TO vote for consta
bles on TWO tickets. Be careful to 5ss
lEEdte III such case each man that you
vote Tor The reason IL that you must
not vote for more than four names,
In the above ballot
For example: II You should put All
\ before the names of Edison A. Welch
Michael w. Gilligan. and stopped there
YOU would be voting for five men,
Nessrs. WelCh. Giliigan. and the three
remaining men on the column which
YOU have marked above. Go the whole
figure and mark an X before every one
of the four men that you want.