Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-05-29
NEW BALLOT LAW.
rr,J. TEXT OF ACT PASSED IN
SPECIAL SESSION.
u,un DOUBTLESS BE SUBMITTED TO
THE PEOPLE UNDER THE REFER
ENDUM ACT.

ro,iowiug is the full text OF the ballot
i. rassed at the recent special session OF
cha legislature, which is being severely
..,,,qed and ON which the, republican
state committee, AT recent meeting, voted
20 invoke the referendum:
=. Act 10 prosSds for the use Of Uniform Ball.
i, Rorss and for ths Preservation Of Ballots
cast at elections;
soctioni. Ballot boxes used for the rece D.
dan Of official ballots shall be OF uniform de-
.iru: they shall be provided for each polling
mace by the secretary OF State at the expense
=, the state, and shall be known as State bal :
h, boxes; each box shall be equipped with q
suitable lock aud key; In the TO p OF each box
there shall be an opening through which
s.eh ballot shall be put into the box; such
o,euing shall be large enough and not larger
,ban may be necessary TO allow a single
to,ded ballot 10 be esaily passed through such
arsDinR into the box, aad shall be covered
with slide which shall be kept shut except
,,bsn opened 10 receive ballot. Each box
shall be large enough TO properly receive and
bold ell ballots which may lawfully be de-
uosited therein ~ any elsction.
section 2. state ballot boxes shall be used
"a, receiving all official ballots cast at cleo
tons. The election officers st each polling
mace shall, at the opening of ;he polls and
before any ballots are received, publicly open
the ballot box, aud ascertain by personal ex-
animation, and publicly show, that the same
/ !. empty, and shalt Immediately thereafter
lock the box and deliver the key thereof TO
,ha town, plantation, ward, district or pre-
sipet clerk, to BE- retained by him until the
,oi. are closed. The ballot box shall not,
s,.er II has been shown 20 be empty and has
heeu locked. be removed from public view
sor open ned nor any ballot removed therefrom
NATL the polls are closed. II il becomes Inn
1 possible to use the State ballot box, the vot-
4 ing shall proceed in such manner as the pre-
siding officer shall direct, and In such case
the clerk shall record the reason why such
4 ballot box Is not used. And shall enclose an
attested copy OF such record In the package
4 With the ballots cast. Any presiding officer
4 or town, plantation, wsrd. district or pre-
einei clerk who does not comply with the re-
4 uulremen,s Of this section, or cvades or at
temps to evade the same, aud any person who
violates any provision OF this section or
binders or attempts 10 hinder any election
oeicef or any town. plantation, ward, dis
trict or precinct clerk 10 the performance OF
his duties under this section, shall be pun
isaed Tor each oSense by fine of not less
than atty dollars nor more than eve hundred
dollars. and by imprisonment for not less
than three npr more thar nine months.
Section 3. The presiding officer at each
polling place shAu have charge u the State
balio, hox. and shall. at the close OF each
eeeti n return the same to the city. town or
4 plantation elerk. The clerk of each city,
4 town or r nt,iion shsli have the custody
4 OF she stt- baliut boxes provided for the
4 vi, shall, 7t the expense Of the town,
provide far their safe keeping and Tor keep
4 isg ihem in good order aud repair, subject
a io lh, supervision anl control Of the seere-
Il lary site.
10 $ ie ballot b * becomes defective or is
4 lees ol destroyed. the town clerk shall sea-
SD make written application 70 the
see.elatg Of ,tste Tor tnather ballot box, and
tAr same shall be supplied at the expense o.
uft-w8.
10, prcsiding os'eer or any city, town or
plantation clerk NH saall neglect TO perform
say dnty Impose hy this section shall be
punished provided IN section thiny-two
4 Of chapter six If ire revised statutes.
Section {. section twenty -five OF chapter
'iH II the Revised Statutes 10 hereby amended
5" ss g. teti follows;
section 3d. No pefsos shall take or remove
aHy ballot from the pJlliUg-p!a before the
Glove Il the pills. II any voter spoiis ballot
4 he may sdccessively httiu others. one at u
u~e o ai cKcee ling three in all, upon return
n'os eaea spoiled enc. The ballots thus re-
q Ill b. 1 ID g.r u
together with those not distributed TO the
voters. with the cheek Isis used, which
'haH be eeriiaei by the ballot clerks to be
A zaeh, hall be secured, sealed and sent to the
severe! eisy, ,wn and plantation clerks.
4 Tie 5'iiots shtll be sorted and counted In
open 'wu or ward meeting In such manner
as T. ii ri the electors present ample oppor-
'ani'y % observe the sorting and counting
aoa the result sEall be declared and recorded
10 opeH iowa or ward meeting. When the
ballots have been 80 sorted and counted and
'ae result so declared and recorded all the
oAiiots shall, in open meeting, be sealed In a
Package. which said package, with the cneck
n''a sealed in the same manner as the ballots
shall forthwith be returned 70 the city, town
" plantation clerk. In case two or more
KINDS Of official ballots are used at any cleo
4 N~~A AlAo snail DC seAltu IN \ Ncp&rhtt
package All ballots and check lists shall be
70 sealed that the packages and check lists
cannot be opened or examined without
INST breaking the seal; and the sealed
packages of ballots east at any State cleo
uon or at any election OF electors of Presi-
usnt and yice-President OF the United States
'nAil have al endorsement of substantially
'oe iollowing tenor endorsed thereon or Sc
Suie'y Affixed thereon; 'This package con-
'A'ns the ballots cast at an election for
held In the OF Cor in
s'a Of the city of on
the dav "a, IN .,. h.,to,.
were sorted, counted, the result declared and
's'ofded, and this package sealed in open
eeNng In accordance with section twenty
eve OF chapter six of the revised statutes"
n 9n endorsement shall be signed by the
al oNn' plantation or ward clerk and by ma
II .Oli'y OF the selectmen OF towns and the as.
II ~. 'ofS OF Plantations, or by the wardens in
n or voting precincts. The ballots and
eek lists returned TO the city clerk after