The Detroit times., 1911-03-31
WILL APPROVE IN.
. PRIMARY CHANGES
Senator Mapes and Rep. Flowers
Offer Amendments and Elections
Committee Will o. X. Them.
1From . stan Correspondent


LANSING, Mich. March 31.-The
house committee on elections met last
night, and voted 10 report favorably
today. the amendments TO the primary
law, which were introduced In the
house by Rep. Flowers and In the
senate by Senator Mapes, yesterday
afternoon.
The proposed changes had been
prepared by the encouragement. IL
is recommended that the general cleo
ton law be made applicable 10 meet
ings OF boards OF canvassers when
notices of primary elections are Civ
en-. The bills change the general
primary day from early In September
TO the last Monday in August so II
won't be too close 20 Labor day. The
primaries for city. county and district
officers shall be- held the first Monday
In March, but in cities where the
charter election Is not held at the
November or the biennial spring cleo
ton the primary election shall bt
held on the third Tuesday prior 10
the charter election.
General enrolment is provided for
the first Monday In April. preceding
the last Saturday in January OF each
year. general enrolment Is re-
quired and all the old acts covering
enrollments are repealed. Under the
old laws the enrolment board Is re-
quired TO enroll as an independent"
any person who refused or neglected
to state his political affiliation. An
amendment is proposed providing
that II an elector neglects or refuses
to disclose the name OF his party he
shall not be registered. An elector.
though, may be enrolled with any
political party which he may name.
The new bills provide for the fol-
lowing additional changes:
The law shall apply TO all cities OF
ess than 10000 where the recon-
mendations for direct nominations
have been approved.
The plan for direct nominations
may be submitted or re-submitted In
any city OF less than 10000 on any
primary day.
The primary law Is made compul-
sorry in every county and judicial dis
trict.
Nomination petitions must be offer
ed 80 days before the August primary.
Special primaries shall be held to
fill vacancies, the ballots to be pre-
pared with blank spaces so the elector
can write. print or paste the name OF
a candidate thereon; the name OF
candidate shall not be printed on any
ballots prepared for a special pri-
mary election.
County committees shall indicate
whether delegates are to be chosen
by precincts or wards.
The chairman OF the township. ward
or city committee shall notify by mail
each person elected as a delegate TO
the county convention which shall
elect representatives to state con-
vention. are
County boards of election commits.
sioners are not required to print and
prepare primary election ballots for
cities.
The provision requiring boards OF
election commissioners to print and
prepare primary election ballots for
cities is struck out, and so Is the pro-
vision calling on the various boards
of election commissioners to print In
struction ballots.
Chairmen OF committees and candi-
dates are authorized to have instruc-
ton ballots printed.
Provision is made for the selection
OF candidates for all city Offices, in
Guiding ward Offices.
Any voter may re-enroll on primary
day as a member Of new political
party.
Township board or common coun-
ell may reduce the number OF primary
election inspectors when a full board
is not needed to perform the duties
No certificate OF nomination shall
be given any candidate unless the
political party with which he Is en-
rolled casts not less than 20 per cent
of the votes registered by such poll
tical party for secretary OF state at
the preceding November election.
Candidates for county Offices at the
August primary may, within ten days
thereafter, select the chairman and
secretary of the county commission,
who may hold such positions for two
years.
In case OF death or withdrawal Of
a candidate the proper party commit
tee may select a candidate, but IL
such action is not taken within i've
days the board OF election commits
sioners shall print on the election
ballot the name OF the person who re-
ceived the next highest vote at the
primary.
No votes shall be counted for a can
didate OF one political party when he
is enrolled as member OF another
political party.