The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-08-06
BY julius e. Roehr.
(Former State Senator)


Former State Senator)
The "Mary Ann" law, generally re-
garded as freakish mystery, is liable
TIC become factor in the primary to
be held on the first day of September
next. A warning to this effect has al
ready appeared in the official gazette
of the only anointed. 1t is safe as
sumption to say that few citizens un-
derstand the philosophy of this dis
tinguished example of progressive legis-
lation. Many have inquired about it.,
but few have been able to give any in
formation and a less number really un-
| derstand the true inwardness of the
law. For the information of those who
are unfamiliar with it, I beg to sub
| NIT the following:
The law provides that each voter
shall have a first choice and a second
| choice and the ballots which will be
submitted to voters in September will
provide for the exercise of first and
second choice. Separate columns are
marked on the ballot--the first column
is designed to register the first choice,
and the second, the second choice for
the same Office. The voter shall place
| a cross, (X) or other mark in the first
column after the name of his first choice
candidate and cross (X) or other
mark after the name of his second
choice space lie voter votes either in
the first or second choice column for two
persons, such vote is counted as 2 first
| choice vote for the person voted for
whose name appears first in such
column, and as a second choice vote
| for the person voted for whose name
appears lower in such column. IF the
voter votes for one person only, such
vote is counted as first choice vote,
whether the voter places his cross in
the first or second choice column. A
| first and second choice vote cast for the
same person is counted as first choice
vote only for such person.
Analysis of Rules.
After a vote has taken place and
the vote is to be canvassed the follow
ing rules apply: The person receiving
| the highest vote at such primary as
the candidate of any party for any Of
fee, determined under the rules provid-
| ed, shall be the nominee Of that party
for such Office and his name as such
nominee shall be placed on the official
ballot at the election.
The rules which explain the working
of the "Mary Ann beauty are as
| follows:
Aft any candidate for an of
| fee receives majority of the
first choice votes he shall be declar-
| ed the nominee for such an office.
B-If no candidate is thus
nominated, drop the name of the
one having the least number of
| first choice votes and add the Sec
ond choice votes cast by his sup
porters to the first choice.
eff no canulaate then has
majority, drop from the remaining
| candidates the one having the least
| number of votes then to his credit
and add the second choice votes
cast by his supporters to the votes
| of the remaining candidates for
whom they were cast.
D-Repeat this operation until
some candidate has a majority or
until only two candidates remain,
the one then having the greater
number of votes to his credit shall
| be declared nominated.
E-No second choice vote shall
| be counted when it is cast for
! candidate whose name shall have
been dropped as herein provided.
F-Any tie shall be decided by
| lot by the canvassers.
Plan of Tally Sheets.
It will be seen at once that where
there are more than two candidates in
the primary the law requires ma
i jority of the votes cast in favor of the
successful candidate. The law provides
how the tally sheet shall be arranged
| and how the votes shall be calculated
and the following illustrates how this
plan works out:
For Governor