The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-08
By y"Hop'

votes, he shall be declared nominated fo1 such office. If no candidate shall re
 ceive such majority of first choice votes, then the nomination for such office shall be between the two candidates rel ceiving the highest number of first choice votes, and shall be determined by adding to the first choice votes of said candil dates, the second choice votes which they respectively, receive, the candidate thus receiving the greater numb CT of first and second choice votes, shall be declared nominated
 In cases where more thon one nomina4 { ton is to be made for any particular office, the candidate or candidates rel ceiving the highest number of first choice votes cast for said office, shall be del ciared nominated therefor: provided, thd first choice votes received by said cant dldates, shall be a majority of all the first choice votes cast for such officel such majority to be determined by addin; the total first choice votes received bJ all the candidates therefor, divided by thu number of candidates to be nominated foI such offlce. If no place or places bd 1llled Tn accordance with this, twice al many candidates as there are places to bt nlled are to be considered, counting thosd who received the highest number of frs choice votes. To these first choice votes are to be added the number of second choice votes which. each, respectively, re celved. and those receiving the highess number will be nominated
 In construing statutes, it is the ruld 10 look to the purpose and intent of the lawmakers. It is evident that the intent or the legislature in enacting this law was, among other things, to prevent q
 run-over" election with it's attendant exl citement, trouble and expense. where nd candidate received a. majority in the frs election. To do this it provided a S aforel said, that each voter shall express his choice in one election, by voting a first and second choice. both votes to be O equal weight, in case none receive ma
 Jor1ty, of first choice, the candidates re- celying the greater number, all told. te De the nominees. If this be the purpose and intent of the law. will it not be neces1 Sary to follow it's plain terms in order Id complete and fulfill it's functions. If iii tllls election, no candidate receives a ma l Jority or the votes cast and no second cholce votes are cast how is the res,,l4 or the election to be determined unde4 the provisions of this statute? No prol Vlslon IS made in it for a turnover If iJ nowhere written in the statute that s voter must vote at all: neither is il herein written, tha the may. or may not at hls option, vote a second choice. ii ne votes It IS plainly stated how ht snail vote, if he does vote The question then arises. would his vote be illegal ii ne fall to vote as the statute prescribest am inclined to believe that it would De. Tor we must follow the law whether we would or not It is not a matter ot choice in this instance. I would advise all voters in cases where there are more tnan two candidates for any office in the coming primary, to cast their vote for first and second choice. in order td place the legality of their vote beyond the shadow of a doubt Respectfully yours. RICHARD L. WILLIAMS I
 Birmingham, May 6, 1916.