The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-01-31
TWO BILLS DEAL
WITH ELECTIONS
Hamilton County Representative
Seeks Many Reforms.
WOULD ABOLISH PARTY EMBLEM

One Of the Measures to Be intro.
dueed by Bruce Provides For Adop-
zion Of Modified Massachusetts
Ballot other Throws Additional
Restrictions Around Registration,
Providing For Description Of EIec-
tor, Name of Employer Etc.
Columbus, o., Jan. 27.-Represen-
tative Il. X. Bruce, Democrat, OF
Hamilton county, will introduce two
Of the biggest election reform meas
ures Of the present session.
The first measure provides for the
modified Massachusetts ballot. which
will 40 away with the party en-
blems, the circle and the party col
umn. 1t will also eliminate the par
ty designation in the election OF
county, municipal and judicial otIi-
GERS. The party designation will be
retained on the state and national
tickets.
The other bill provides for reforms
In the registration of voters in cities
II properly enforced 1t will stop ille-
gal voting, such as has been uncov-
cred by the Cincinanti investigation.
The ballot reform bill provides that
The candidates for all Offices and all
questions to be submitted to a refer
endum vote shall be placed on the
same ballot, except In the case OF
the election of members of the board
OF education. Because of the num-
ber of school districts In the town
ships. 1t was found to be impracti-
cable to Include candidates for this
office.
All on One Ballot.
The candidates for each office will
be grouped in one column In alpha
betical order, the names rotating so
that each candidate will at intervals
head the ticket
In the case OF national and state
tickets the letters II or ID will be
used after the name to designate the
party Rfiiliation OF the candidate. An
other deviation from the Massachu-
eetts plan IS that the names of all
the presidential electors will be used
instead of only one: II restricts the
name of u candidate TO but one place
on the ticket, though he may be
nominated by more than one party.
The bill also says that paper which
will not show pencil marks through
IL must be used.
In Bruce's bill for reform In regis
eration he provides for three new
columns and questions I'm the regis
tration book. He wants the pros.
pective voter to give the place OF
residence at the last previous regis
ration, his occupation End per.
sonal description.
In the column under place of res.
tdence at last registration the voters
must give their postoflice address
and street NUMBER, II any. In the
occupation column he must give the
name of his employer. II he hp one.
Must Describe Voters.
In the personal description column
must be given the color OF the
voters hair and eyes, his apparent
height and weight and any other APP
parent means of identification, such
&s the loss OF a member. whether
Bnivutn snayen or NOT. IT there are
any scars or blrthmarks they must
be noted and described.
When voter makes his mark on
che registration book, he must make
affidavit that he can not sign his
name
election board Office after every day
or registration and printed copies OF
che registered voters must be fur
Dished to each of the controlling
committees within three days after
thoy are printed.
Voters must give the date and year
-ot their birth, instead of giving their
ages.
when voter is challenged the
sudge OF elections must ask the same
questions answered when the voter
registered, but In different order
and there must be no leading CUES.
lions.
Every ballot given the voter must
be returned to the clerk and deposit
ed In the ballot box.
Each ballot must be counted sep
arately as It 10 taken from the box
and The ballots In the box must not
Do counted as to their numbers until
each one has been called of to the
clerk and the vote properly recorded
AS YOU LIKE IT
The volcano OF Taal. Islnnd OF LII.