Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-18

! past two days. Mr. Killen, the able
| young man. is after the approval of
| the Maine Legislators before putting
! the question directly up to the three
men who will make the decision
No new law is required Section 46 of
| Chapter of the Revised Statutes states;
| mat city or town may. at legal
( fore any regular election, determine upon
ana purchase or accept for trial. and or
| DER ne use OF one or more voting and
, counting machines for the then ensuing
| election in said city or town and there
after in case said machine or machines
, are purchased, at all elections In cities
and at state and Presidential elections
in towns until otherwise voted
Section 10 of the same Chapter desig-
mates the attorney general, secretary of
state ard one member of the Governors
, council TO be named by the Governor a s
a committee to examine voting and
counting machines and apparatus. and
they snail certify their approval of such
machines as in their judgment, furnish
convenient, simple and satisfactory
means of voting and of ascertaining the
true result thereof -
In this section it is also stipulated that
the voter must have a degree of secrecy
In voting equal to that afforded by the
official ballot as provided by the law
and that no machine except such as is
approved by such officers" shall be used
in the State
SECTION as provides that "the secretary
of State shall make regulations for the
use of machines approved and before
each state and Presidential election shall
furnish appropriate instruction for the
voters"
TO equip the city of Augusta with
these machines would cost in the vi
cinity of $4,000; the city of Auburn
about $500 and the city of Portland in |
the neighborhood of $4,000. Esti-
mated cost of a machine suitable for
Maine elections is $500.
A great saving in time and officials |
needed is claimed by the company |
even sufficient to pay the cost of the |
machine before its life is fairly begun |
The machine consists of a face. at |
convenient height and with wings II
insure secrecy, carrying the names of |
all the candidates, referendum ques- |
tons and spaces for the independent |
candidates. Under each name is "a |
button to he turned for casting the |
vote. AS this is turned an X shows |
in small circle at the left. but |
ton provides for a straight ticket, and |
once this is turned no other vote may |
be cast, unless the button is turned |
back and that vote cancelled. A |
split ticket is possible and without |
further action than the turning of the |
buttons under the names of the men
desired. Any of these votes may be
cancelled by turning back the neces
sary button but only one vote for one
man is possible. In the case of State
Senator for Kennebec, for instance,
where three are allowed, three votes
may be cast by turning three buttons,
but the lock is then on and no more
votes may be recorded in that section
providing, always, the buttons are
not turned back for cancelling.
Tire voter enters the compartment
wherf the machine is installed. The
warden Verifies his eligibility and the
voter steps to the other side of the
maehine first lifting a bar. This
steel arm. rings a bell and unlocks the
machine for voting. Surprising he
desires to vote for Callahan for State
Auditor; he turns the button under
Callahan's name and, Immediately, all
the other buttons in the Auditor col
urnn are locked.
In voting for a candidate whose
name is not on the board, the voter
turns a button under blank space
where directions are given and slip
| of paper is exposed for him ia write
| in a name.
! Having done all his voting he leaves
the machine by the other side. rails
ing another bar which records This
| total vote Only until this bar is
| raised is the vote ''rung up without
| possibility of change Ffhe machine
/ is then ready for the next voter.
On the other side of the machine IS
! a roll of paper. covered With an mixed
curtain where the sheet EXTENDS over
| the back of the voting face. The
| mere turning of a. crank causes the
| figures on the total adders to print on
/ the roll, not only the number of votes
cast but the name of the man for
| whom they are cast. The result of
the vote, checked beyond question, IS
| known within 20 seconds of the clos
| ing of the polls.