Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-12-26
The New Primary Election Law.

New 4 ears souvenirs.
Mark Down Sale OF Women's Wool Suits.
Annual Meeting.
For Sale
The New Primary Election Law.
By our votes cast on the 18th day of
last September, we, the people of the
state of Maine, have adopted and made
part of the law of the state, asystem
of nominations by political parties
which is radically different from the Gus
tom so long in vogue Of making those
nominations by delegate conventions.
As all nominations for Offices to be filled
at the state election will have TO be
made under this law in 1912, it IL well
TO look at some of the main features of
Ii, and be somewhat prepared to act un-
der il.
The direct primary law does away,
practically, with conventions. To be
sure, there is To be a state convention
of each political party, to be held not
less than sixty nor more than ninety
days before the third Monday of June
In 1912 these conventions must be held
between the 10Th of March and the 18th
of April. These conventions may be
called by the appropriate party COM
mittees on such basis aud such terms as
they may see fit, but when assembled
all they can do is to adopt platform or
declaration of principles, and choose
party com mittees for the state, the
several congressional districts and the
several counties. No nominations will
be made by the state convention, and no
congressional district or county conven-
tons will be held.
The parties having thus made their
platforms, the candidates of all parties
will be nominated by the voters at pri-
mary election held on the third Monday
of June OF each year when there is
and county offices, United States Senator
and members of the legislature, will be
nominated at this time and by this
method.
Ballots for the primary election will
be prepared and furnished by the secre-
tary of state, and will have printed on
them the names of all members of the
party who have filed nomination papers
for any office. These nomination pa
pers shall not be signed before the first
of January, and must be filed with the
secretary Of state on or before the first
Monday of May.
Signatures to each nomination paper
must number not less than one per cent
and not more than two pei cent of the
total vote for governor 10 the preceding
election, in the particular division of the
state. For instance, the total vote for
governor in 1910 having been 40,945,
nomination papers for any candidate for
state office in 1912 must have not less
than 1909 nor more 2S1S signatures. In
Oxford County. the total governor vote
in 1910 being 1892, candidates for any
county Office, in order to have their
names printed on the ballot, must have
nomination papers signed by not less
than Is nor more than $50 voters.
Be il understood that no voter is IN
der obligation to vote for any man whose
name is printed on the ballot. Below
the printed names there will be blank
space where the voter may write or
paste in any name he pleases.
Proceedings at the primary election
will not differ materially from those at
the regular election, except that each
voter will be furnished with ballot of
the party to which he belongs, and the
ballots of the different parties will be OF
different colors. The party casting the
highest vote at the preceding election
will have white ballot, 80 il you are a
Democrat that's the color you'll get on
the 18th of next June. If you are Re-
publican you will have ballot of jauu-
diced yellow. il a Socialist blue.
There is however a difference in the
form of the ballot from that used at state
h. Of fsa
for each office will be arranged in alpha
of each, and you will make cross in
the square at the right OF each name for
which you wish To vote. There will be
no way to vote the whole thing with one
cross. Instead the form is more like the
Massachusetts form of ballot, to which
We shall eventually Come for our state
elections.
There is also an important difference
In the hours of voting. The polls open
at twelve o'clock noon. and remain open
until nine o'clock, except in towns OF
three thousand Inhabitants or less, where
they close at ak O'Clock.
Returns are made TO the governor and
council, and canvassed by them, and the
person having the highest vote for nomi
nation to any office is declared the noun
nee of the party, 10 case OF tie, the
secretary of state decides between the
candidates by lot.
Within seven days after receiving no.
tice of his nomination, each successful
candidate shall send to the secretary Of
state his acceptance OF the nomination,
and with IL an itemized statement of his
expenditures. These expenditures must
not exceed certain sum. which is a.
follows: state officers and United States
senators; $500; members Of congress,
$500; county officers, $50 for each ten
thousand votes cast in the county at the
preceding election, or fraction thereof;
members of legislature, in districts hav-
ing three or more representatives, 800,
In districts with single representative
$50. Furthermore, although the can
didate Is allowed to make this expendi-
ture for himself, he must certify that no
person or corporation has with his
knowledge and consent contributed any
thing toward his nomination.
No statement is required from candi-
dates who are not successful 10 getting
the nomination.
These are the main features OF the law.
There are many more provisions, regard
ing the filing Of vacancies, and other
necessary matters, not Of general interest
,,n1ar ordiparv conditions