The Greeley tribune., 1912-08-15
New Election Law

(By Benjamin Grlnlth, a''oVns!
general)
There has been considerable con-
fusion with reference 10 the primar!
election law-particularly as TO who
In entitled to vote at the primaries
and as to the manner OF voting.
Under the primary election ia"
only two parties are entitled TO par
ticipate therein and choose their
candidates by primary election,
namely, the republican party and
the democratic party, since section
2 Of the act provides that only those
parties whose candidate for COVER
nor received 10 per cent OF the total
vote cast at the preceding general
election, shall participate in the pri-
mary.
There will, therefore, be made up
for this primary election one ballot
which will be the republican party
ballot, and also one ballot which
will be the democratic party ballot.
Candidates for the different offices
ON thees ballots will be placed there
either by assembly, designation or by
petitions duly filed with the proper
officer. August 10 was the last day
for filing these petitions.
Must Register in Order to Vote
To vote at this primary election,
to be held September 10, it will be
necessary to register in accordance
with the provisions of chapter 127
of the session laws of 1911. The
first 3S sections of this law pertain
to registration in cities of over 81
900 inhabitants, while section SO
provides for registration in all other
election precincts in the state.
Each person who expects to vote
at the September primaries should
see that he is properly registered as
provided by law.
When a qualified elector. duly
registered, presents himself to vote
at the primaries, he will be given a
republican party ticket and a demo-
cratic party ticket. He will then re-
tire to the voting booth and select
one or the other Of these tickets
and vote for the candidates on the
same. He can not vote on both
tickets. The ticket that he has vot-
ed will be by him duly deposited in
the ballot box. The ticket which he
does not vote he will deposit before
leaving the polling place, in sep
arate ballot box, known as the
blank ballot box.
Voter May Write Name OF Candidate
If the voter is dissatisfied with
the names of those on the ticket
which he desires to vote, he may
vote on said ticket for any other
person who is a member of the po-
litical party represented by the
ticket which he votes, by writing
the name of the person he desires
to vote for in the blank space imme-
diately following the printed names
of candidates.
If voter is challenged, he is re-
quired to make oath or affirm, as
follows:
Il do hereby solemnly swear
or affairm) that l am a quail
fed voter, that l am a member
of and affiliated with one of
the political parties represent
=. ed by ballot at this primary
election, and that will at this
election vote only under the
ballot and only for the candi-
dates of the political party of
which ! am member and
with which l am affiliated"
The voter is not required to dis
close which ticket he votes for, but
has to make oath or affirm
as above set out; and this is the only
test set forth in the primary law as
to his right to vote.
Presidential electors are not
chosen at the primary election, and
Will. therefore, not be voted upon
at that time. These electors are
chosen TO 60 on the ballots at the
general election either by assembly
designation or by petitions, which
may be filed not less than thirty
nor more than sixty days before the
fall election.
The direct primary is conducted
under all Of the formalities of the
general election, ,and the same pen
elites for Illegal voting, etc, apply.
Only Two Parties Can Participate
AS already stated, only the repub-
hcan and the democratic parties may
participate in the September pri-
maries. All other candidates of
other parties. and Independent can
dfdates may be placed upon the fall
election ballot by certificates of
nomination signed by a certain
number OF voters, as required by
law. These certificates of nomination
for all independent candidates, or
parties other than the republican
and democratic parties, can be filed
not less than thirty days nor more
than sixty days before the general
fall election, with reference to state
and national offices; with reference
to county offices they can be filed
not less than fifteen days nor more
than sixty days before the general
election.