The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-10-04

| hlIey says, ana ne lnlnkS the pOll
tax would, in a measure, solve the sit
uation. The tax could be either 81
or 81. This would create a fund TO
more thaD pay the expense of cleo
tions in all counties, meet the eX-
penses of the state election board,
and something would be left for the
general fund of the state 1t has been
suggested that the entire tax collec-
ton be placed to the credit of the
road funds in counties where paid.
The judgment of all the county cleo
ton officials was sought by Secretary
Riley in making his recommendation
Nearly all touched upon the idea OF
tightening the election laws so an
elector would be compelled TO vote
with his party in the primary cleo
tion, and not be permitted to partici-
pate in the nomination of the oppos-
ing party. The governor is told that
the law should be amended so that
voters receiving a certificate of reg
istration and the man indorsing for
him should be required to sign the
certificate, the verification to be un-
der oath, administered by the inspec-
tor or the election official. Added
to this there should be test suffi-
, cient to establish the party fealty
before an elector is permitted to cast
primary ballot
In cities of the first class, where
registration exists, it would be to the
! advantage Of all if the registration
| be at one or more central points.
| Under the law the inspector for reg
istering the voters receives SC per
name, and is supposed to keep his
office open for thirty days. Not
more than $50 register during the
time, and it is difficult, the report
says, to get any one to give that much
time for total of Sc or $S. There
should be a new election law govern.
ing cities. towns and villages
More Time Desired.
More time should be allowed be-
tween the day of elections and the
last day for candidates to file their
applications with the state board. In
the recent primary there were 500
candidates, and the secretary points
ont that il requires considerable time
to prepare specifications for the bal
lot, have them printed and delivered
to the election precincts The alpha
I|betical rule Of placing candidates
names on the ballot is not satisfactory
and will never be. the secretary be
lieves, for it has been demonstrated
several times that the person first
on the list received an additional num-
Der of votes by reason of his ballot
position. The secretary believes that
fee should be charged for candi-
dates filing, and while the report does
not so state, it is thought this rule
would reduce the number Of candi-
dates for office The legislature will
be asked to provide some system for
placing names on the ballot which
, VIII be more satisfactory. and coun.
ties Will be required to follow the
procedure applying to the state ticket
Some of the election officers re-
spending to the secretary's request for
suggestion, all of which are append.
ed to the report, point out that the
election law should be fixed and al
lowed TO remain so as soon as il can
be made satisfactory. When once
established the people will learn what
the law is and be able to follow it
Another suggestion is to require the
sheriff to deliver the ballots. this he
ing in the interest of economy. The
writer told the secretary that in that
county the expense of delivering the
printed ballots was s1S4. whereas the
sheriff could have performed the SER
vice for $50 expense. Secretary ri.
ley believes the compensation for
members Of the county election board
should be a per diem, also per diem
Tor election officers and, in each in. |
stance TO determine what constitutes
days work. Travel pay for inspec-
tors to and from the county seat.
when on election business, is also
recommended.
A definite time should be fixed for
asking for a recount OF the ballots. |
and the primary election, after which |
certificates OF nomination we're 10
delivered would give ample time for
all contests 70 be filed before any OF
the candidates may obtain their GER