Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-23
Reasons for Voting Against the
Especial Session Ballot Law.

of general legislation When submitted the
prova of the people under provisions the question whether
is of Republican of Democratic origin but whether
good useful law for when enacted will apply all
sons and to all parties 1t the amned of all parties
therefore that submit few considerations in connection with til
proposed new ballot law of which approve dappoye
September 9.
This special legislature
March 3 1912 entitled An Act to Provide for the Use Uni
form Ballot and for the Preservation
tons In far presbes the of official ballot boxes of
form design be furnished the expense of the State for
tanning earlier election believe the has merit Had
stopped there the referendum would have invoked The
econabe features of the Statute be found Section and
the other sections dependent upon that section
Section 8 reads as follows
Section Within twenty-fonr after
ton for governor senator's representatives the legislature representa-
Ves electors of president vcepsdent
States and for county officers the clerk of each shall securely pac
box boxes all ballots given by him for
and returned to him under the provisions of section chap
without breaking the seal of the packages ballots him
together with ateed copy his number of ballots
sent by him to each polling place and shall seal each
lin said hours shah deliver said b h S ss Ni
some express company directed and be
OF State Augusta Maine charges prepaid shall
clerk of each deliver said baoso or boxes So sealed to the
preserve period of six months ali such ballots 60 received b b
public Any town clerk who negecs to perform the duties
imposed upon HIM by this section and any who breaks
affixed any package any box containing packages OF
ballots before the delivered the Secretary of
State shall be punished provided in section of this act
Is this safe sane and necessary legisaton If let
ent under the referendum by rejecting proposed law by decisive
and non partisan vote
The act makes most radical change matter of the prerva-
ton and inspection of ballots Under the existing system they are seal
ed the polls Immediately after they have been counted are
served for SIX months the custody various town and CITY
clerks as pubic record and under their supervision may time
inspected by legally the result of the election
Under the proposed law in all elections the ballots have
been counted they be sealed up at the polls and within
Jour houTs at the towns the secretary of state and
are TO be preserved by that official for six subject to similar
% IN tba
tary OF state of the clerk whom he NAV DESIGNATE fo
that purpose
It needs but little reflection convince rgtnng voter that
the proposition fundamentally wrong wholly unnecessary and fraob
with danger.
The argument in behalf of the measure set forth in the official
legislative record of the debate thereon may be fairly sum-
married. follows:
FIRST Many mistakes have been made ,p,er th ;; =
TOR instance at the September in 1910 an error Of 100
against Governor Paed was made the official Gardiner
his may be conceded but does follow that the errors would be
ened under the proposed law contrary as we shall non
out the possibility of and confusion and the opportnes for
fraudulent manipulation would be largely increased It NAV be noted
passing tha there nothing the proposed would have
prevented the error in the Gardiner return or have insured s earlier
detection In that ballots were CORRECTLY counted. tho -
lay in the failure to correctly copy official record of the count
and was corrected not by the ballots but by amending the return
ne secretary OF state accordance with official record al
Gardiner * fs.e Il =
SECOND That the bill nstres the preservation of the bao
against destruction by ,fre rl0na4 a e1 $50 astta
In view OF the garing bnder made this very particular in this
measure which raioaded through without reference to com
ee without public hearing and with scanty debate this arg1
et somewhat amusing Section new act amends sector
IS OF Cape OF the Revised Statutes recne the section
amended overlook the important amendment made in 1907 bane
I49) requiring and city to keep the ballots sFcTPFIy
LOehEb IN AN IRON SAFE WHENEVER SUCH CITY TOWN
OK PLANTATION SHALL so PROVIDE THE SAME FOR HIS
40 oOo1 elFkh and therefore repeats that salutary pro
vision The proposed law therefore, destroys the existing safeglar,
against hfe Even i'll state elections provide for anv r
protection when the ballots have reached Secretary of State Thu
% al an enormous mass OF ballots shipped boxes from
town. u1D1ou -, ,aC
OF packing and transportation and the subsequent of fire will
greater certainty than they remained in the clerks iron safes
70 say the least not impressive If the existing provisions apans
e are deemed inadequate the law observed te obvo
remedy to pass legislation making the affirmative duty of town
to provide safes and imposing penalty for noncom
piance