The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-04
NICHOLS PLANS TO
CUT PRECINCTsTO
800 VOTERS
Would Mean Greater Speed in Secur.
ing Election Returns and Elm
mate Many Errors in the
Count, Says City Clerk.
Half Holiday On Primary and Polling
Days Other Features Council Will
i, De Asked To Take Up.

Il believe that a charter amend
ment should be submitted this spring,
reducing the limit of registration in
each precinct OF 300 said City Clerk
Nichols, Tuesday. This would create
according 10 a rough estimate, about
200 election districts in the city in
stead OF l55. and would, | believe,
effectually settle the question of
securing early and accurate election
returns. | would also at the same
time like TO see the legislature amend
= The election laws so AS To make the
afternoon OF the general fall election
day and the general fall primary day
half-holdays for everybody, to give
the workingmen of the city chance
10 vote before night. By these two
changes | think We would see "a won
derful Improvement in conditions.
"A reduction in the size OF the cleo
ton districts is absolutely necessary.
and as to the half-holiday, | think
that II is only fair that the men who
constitute fully 20 per cent of our
population should have proper time
in which TO go TO the polls and eXer
else their right OF franchise.
Men who have worked hard all
day can't take the interest in stand
.ng in line at voting booth while
their supper gets cold that they
would in voting at their leisure.
AS IL is now the workingman who
votes is handicapped by lack of time
and opportunity while the man OF
means has only himself to consult
m his. m a nd snnNanipncn in
ing to the polls.
BY creating II general half-holiday
the polls could be closed al 6 o'clock,
and with the small election districts
The votes would all be counted anu
the results known by | or II o'clock
NJ the latest The men who work in
the booths would also be able to get
their sleep and be able To be at their
regular employment the next day
AT the last election il was found
necessary In large number OF the
districts To use two election booths
Joined together to properly accommo.
date the voters. Ii was also necessary
for the common council To make an
appropriation for additional clerks for
large number OF these districts.
1T Is no wonder that there is delay
in this city II is no wonder that mis-
takes are made. | think the men in
charge Of the election districts do
their work remarkably well under the
existing conditions and that the errors
are very few considering the big "ote
handled.
We must have smaller districts and
believe that no precinct should have
rnufStaral
all probabilities this would reduce the
actual number of votes east in any
district TO not more than $50
IT will be said. perhaps, in opposi
ZION TO this plan that the expense will
se cOrrespondingly increased That Is
rot correct. as believe that with
UGH a change other changes could
also be made that would eliminate
much of the present cost
For instance. this year in anticipa-
don Of the long hours that would be
occupied in counting the ballots and
preparing the returns. the common
.ouncil and board of estimates allow.
"a for two days work instead of one,
md the men fully earned the extra
pay. With the small precincts the
necessity for allowing this extra pay
WONln ne tllUllIldlttl, NuuS IfuutiHE Nbt
expense exactly onehalf This reduc.
zion alone would pay very large por-
ton of the expenses OF the added cleo.
ton districts.
with the smaller districts it would
also be practicable and desirable TO
cut out the o'clock count. thus saw
ing a lot OF expense for election para
phernalia. The expense thus saved
Gould 20 into the added districts. BY
cutting out the o'clock count great
deal Of confusion would also be avoid
ed The tally sheets would be less
complicated and there would be very
much less chance for mistakes in the
use of the debit and credit system OF
tabulating.
Tho o'clock count. to my way OF
thiaking, should be abolis. ID anyway.
II gives great opportunity for condi.
items that are not exactly right. Where
contest is close in "A ward il permits
The candidates to size up the situation
and Gates a condition not in har-
mony with our secret ballot system.
IL is considered a necessary evil how
ever, with our present large election
districts but can be done away with.
shall take up the matter of a char
ter amendment along the lines | have
suggested Immediately with the com
mon council in order that the ques-
ii 1 may be voted on at the spring
election
There are also several amendments
10 the primary law that | shall recon-
mend To the legislature later on In the
hope OF improving conditions relating
TO our own city"
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pnDc uEp EMpI OVID