Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-01-13
ELECTION LAW
MORE SIMPLE
ALL MUST REGISTER AGAIN
Changes by the Last Legislation
Which Are Important to All.
ALL MUST REGISTER AGAIN

the election laws of the state of Ore
gon in many important particulars.
Important Changes Made in Election
Laws.
Polls to remain open until p. m
-one hour longer than heretofore.
Primary elections to be held or
third Friday in May biennally, in
stead of April in Presidential years
and September in "off" years.
All candidates for Circuit Judge,
District Attorney and Congress in
districts embracing only one country,
to file petitions with Secretary of
State, the same as candidates for dis
triet officers embracing more than one
county.
All candidates for Legislature to
file petitions with Secretary of State,
as Joint, Senators and Representa-
tives have heretofore done.
Progressives to participate in pri-
mary elections on equal terms with
Democrats and Republicans.
National Committeeman to be elect
ed by popular party vote in 1914 and
every four years thereafter.
All nominating petitions to be fled
before a uniform date, regardless Of
space in state pamphlet.
More time allowed for preparing and
printing official ballots and pamph-
let's
q Simplified ballot titles for initia-
tive aid referendum measures.
Saving in cost of printing and mail
ing initiative and referendum pamph-
let's.
4 There were, in all, Is measures per-
tanning to elections, and the result of
their enactment is that Oregon has a
simple and more efficient set Of laws
on this subject.
Primary Election Shifted.
Among the important changes made
are the following The primary ilom-
mating election heretofore held alter
nately in April and September has
been shifted to the third Friday in
May biennially; the polls are to open
at s a. M, and close at p. m.--one
hour later than heretofore; all can
didates for district offices in districts
one county only, and all
candidates for the Legislature must
hereafter file their petitions with the
Secretary of State; the Progressive
party is recognized as a regular polit-
ical party within the meaning of the
direct primary law; National commit.
teemen are to be elected by popular
vote in their respective parties; more
time is allowed the Secretary of State
and other election officials for the
of official ballots and the
distribution of campaign pamphlets;
initiative and referendum measures
will hereafter have simplifed ballot
titles and pamphlets will be printed
N smaller type.
These amendments to the election
avs are fully set forth in the Session
Laws of Oregon for 1913, but the
following is synopsis of the more
changes:
Chapter 288 changes the time of the
biennial state election from the first
Monday in June to the first Tuesday
lfter the first Monday in November.
n accordance with the amendment to
ection 14of article II of the Consti-
ution of Oregon, made by the people
m June l, 1908. This chapter also
'numerates the state. district and
ounty officers to be elected, among
hese being a United States Senator.
Voters to Elect Senators.
The mention of the United States
in this chapter contem-
lated the adoption of the 18th '
to the Constitution of the
Tnited States, providing for direct !
lection of Senators by the people, |,
D further legislation on this subject
ill not be necessary in the state of
regon.
This chapter, among other things,
rovides for keeping the polls open 3
ntil s p. m. instead of 7 p. m. as S
eretofore. in order to give working &
en, clerks and others plenty of time
, vote. Heretofore, many laborers \
ho reside in the suburbs have not Y
zen able to reach their polling places T
time to vote. }
Chapter 1S9 designates those candi- S
ltes for public Office who shall file
eir declarations and petitions with q
e Secretary of State and those who Il
all file with the County Clerk. p
eretof0re much confusion has exist e.
in Judicial. Congressional and Pros il
uting Attorney districts embracing
Ily one county, and candidates have H
en- at loss TO know whether to file II
cir petitions with the Secretary of pi