The daily sentinel., 1912-04-06
Isn't II About Time You Were
Setting Familiar With
This Law?

The Sentinel has been asked more
than once about the changes that
will be made in the mode of nomin.
ating the candidates for the Offices
Of the county and Of the state, the
Judicial districts, etc., this fall.
We find that the big majority Of
the people here and elsewhere in the
state arc not familiar with the work
ings Of the direct primary election
law which will be effective in Colo
RADIO this fall.
Believing that it is about time
that all local citizens were becoming
familiar with the manner in which
they will be called upon to select
their candidates to be voted upon at
the November election, The Sentinel
presents below the details of the new
Colorado direct primary election law.
Direct primary elections are to be
held just as regular elections. The
state conducts both. The same judg-
es and clerks act at both primary
and general elections. The same gen
eral laws Of the state apply. The
voter must have the same qualifica-
tions. There must be the same regis
tration. The law Of challenge is the
same.
Under the law, only parties hav-
ing polled 10 per cent of the vote
will be considered at the primary;
therefore, in the next primary cleo
ton there will be only democratic
and republican ballots. and only dem.
ocrats and republicans may vote.
At such primary election tie voter
will be handed democrats and re-
publican ballot. fastened together at
the top. He will rrooeed to the elec-
ton booth and place a cross after the
name Of the c1ndidste for each Of
flee for whom he desires to vote, on
one ballot only. If he should place
a cross after names on both the re-
publican and democratic ballots, or
if he should write a name on one
ballot which appears on the other
ballot. he will lose his vote. The bal
lot will contain names for all candi-
dates from United States senator
down to constable and including pre-
cinct committeeman. After marking
his ballot he will separate the two
ballots and fold them and deposit the
one he has voted in the ballot box
and hand the other one to the Judges
10 be placed in the discard box.
Names are placed on the ballot in
two ways:
First, an assembly of the party is
called, just now as conventions are
held. to nominate state, county OF dis
trict officers.
The assembly shall take only one
ballot for each office to be filled
The name Of every candidate receiv!
ing 10 per cent or more of the vote
of the convention for that office will
go on the direct primary ballot. The
assembly has no other power.
Second, any member of a party de-
string to become candidate of his
party for an office may also have
his name placed on the primary bal
.ot by petition in substantially the
same manner as independent candi-
dates are now placed on the general
election ballot.
An office for the state OF district
larger than county requires 300
petitioners. County officers require
100 petitioners. All petitioners must
be qualified electors.
The candidate for any office who
receives the highest number of votes
Tor such office at the primary elec
ion becomes the candidate of his
party at the general election.
The name of the candidate of o
! party for United States senator, so
nominated at the primary election.
gees onto the general election ballot
just SIS the candidate for governor, so
that the whole people may there make
q choice.
Every candidate for state senator
or representative must sign one of
! two pledges-one that he will vote
for the peoples choice so made; or
one that he will vote for his party
choice. There is nothing on the pri-
mary ballot to indicate whether a
candidate has been selected by peti.
ton or an assembly.
The party organization is as fol.
lows:
A man and woman must be elect
ed in each precinct as precinct COM
mitteemen. These committee men
md women constitute the county
committee