The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1912-10-04
Proposed By Initiative Petition

Proposed By Initiative Petition.
EIGHTH CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
MENT.
Providing that grand Iurles, In lnVes,
tlgating elections, a open ballot
boxes, compel the production Of reglstra-
ton lists, voting lists and tally sheetsi
providing for trials on Indictments re-
turned In such Investigations prescribing
the manner of selection and the qualltca-
tons of election officials; requiring po-
lcemen to be stationed in and near
polling places In certain cities and pre-
serlblng the name Of voting therein.
Proposed amendment to the Constitu-
ton Of Missouri, to be submitted to the
legal voters thereof, for their approval or
rejection. at the regular general election
to be held on Tuesday, the nth day OF
november, A. ID. 1912, n empowering
grand juries to Investigate offenses com
mitted in elections, to return indictments
thereon, and providing for the trial upon
such indictments in the courts; also pro-
viding for the manner Of conducting cleo
tions, the duties Of officers and voters
with reference thereto, and the qualidvI-
lions and selection Of judges and clerks
OF election throughout the state and h
cities Of Is, 900 inhabitants or more.
Section 1. The ballot shall remain Sc
cret in Missouri, but where crime has
been committed in any election secrecy
shall yield to justice, and no ~impediulent
shall be placed in the way of the de-
lection, prosecution and conviction Of the
guilty. The investigation Of all elections
in which it is sought TO open ballot boxes
in search OF crime shall be conducted by
a grand jury composed of competent, IN
t~elligent citizens OF high moral chUrac-
ter. Such grand jury shall have power
to compel the production OF registration
lists, voting lists, tally sheets all
documentary evidence Of every kind,
also to compel the production Of ballot
boxes, to open the same n examine the
ballots; also to subpoena witnesses and
take their testimony; also to compare any
part OF the evidence, oral, written or print
ed, with any other part Of the evidence.
Voters may state under oath their
ballots were as voted. The jury. grand
or petit, shall decide under the law and
all the facts whether or not ballots have
been Wllfully and knowingly tempered
with, or changed, or misread, or falsely
counted, or false ballots placed In their
stead. Upon any indictment returned a
speedy public trial shall be had, and the
ballots IND documentary and oral EVIL
dence considered by the grand jury. and
other competent evidence, may be intro
duced In the trial under the rules Of law.
A grand jury, for the investigation Of
elections as above provided, shall be
called in each county and In any city
with a government independent of the
county, by the several judges throughout
the state empowered by law to call grand
juries, within thirty days after each gem
eral election. or If a judicial circuit or
district is composed Of several counties,
then at the next term Of the court there
after. Such grand Jury shall take the
place of a regular annual grand jury
now provided for by law to investigate
elections and for other purposes, anC
when convened shall possess all the pow
ers as to investigations and the indict-
ment Of offenders for felonies and mis-
demeanors possessed by a regular grand
jury. 1t is hereby made the imperative
duty Of the judge of the court to specific
ally charge such grand jury to investi-
gate the preceding general election, OF
he may charge them to investigate Of
Tenders in other elections not barred
under the law by limitation.
Section II. Competent persons who re-
ceive the protection Of the law shall
owe It to the state to act as election
officials, and individuals Of the very high
est moral character to be found shall b'
selected. Neither poverty, nor wealth
nor magnitude of business, nor profes.
sional callings however exalted, shall eN'
cuse the citizens unless serious injury
would result, but druggists and physi
clans may be excused II they demand 1t
All Judges and clerks of elections II
cities above 20, 900 inhabitants shall hole
their offices for a specified term, anC
shall be examined thoroughly as to theiI
qualifications. Any election commission
er or other officer charged with the Sc
lection Of election officials who shall fai
to make dlligent search for men of goOt
character, or who shall willfully pass b,
men Of good character, and knowingl.
select persons Of bad reputation as elec
ton officials, shall be deemed guilty OF
misdemeanor. In all cities of 25. 600 In
/ la h4taafc on v,4opa tufo .aavNPafapf ffTA1rA
and one competent clerk of high mora
character shall be chosen FOR each Tge
cinct from the city at large, and VIII.
do not reside in the precinct for whicl
they are chosen. These, with the twO
Judges and one clerk chosen from tn
precinct, shall constitute the judges an
clerks for such precinct, and all judge
and clerks shall be equally divided j.
each precinct between the two polltlca
parties having the largest number o
votes in the state as shown by the las
general election. In every precinct j
such cities there shall be stationed tw
policemen, one outside and one insid
the booth, who shall protect all electio
officials. challengers, Watchers, voter
and others. and who, for willful failur
to do so, shall be adjudged guilty OF
misdemeanor. Wherever registration
required the person who registers sha
r sign his name on the registration BOOB
and when he comes to vote he shall agal
sign his name opposite his number o
the poll book, and the election officer
may compare the signatures. II tn
r voter cannot sign his name then he sha
make his mark ip the usual way on III
III registration book, duly attested in writ
/. ing by two or more reputable Witnesse
TO whom he is known, and when any IN
dividual offers to vote under such nam
the Judges may determine from the ties
| timony of the attesting witnesses, or
r they cannot be produced then from othG
proof, whether or not he Is the sam
r person who made his mark ON the regis
tration book, and In voting he SHAH agai
| make his mark attested as above re
! uuired. If any person signs any otht
, than his true name In registering or vol
ing he shall be adjudged guilty OF forg
I cry and punished as may be prescribe
/ by statute. Every political party an
: every body Of citizens organized for IN
purpose Of passing any constitutions
amendment shall be entitled 10 a repre-
sentative inside Of the booth to waite
L the balloting and counting, and In add
tion thereto shall also be entitled to or
. challenger. Where 1t is provided herei
that a violation OF any provision OF N
d. amendment shall be q n
punishment shall be fixed by statute.
. the offender Is a regular official he shall
\ upon conviction, forfeit his office, and /
9 may be prosecuted under this amendme1
! and his office forfeited Independent
> any statute. The word election as use
herein shall be construed to mean an
election, general or special, wheth'
state, county or municipal, including an
X primary election held under the laN
n This amendment shall be SELF -enfurcinI
q but legislation may be enacted to facil
y tate its operation.
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