The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-04-27
SECOND CHOICE VOTE
IN COMING PRIMARY
Care Will Be Taken in Tabulatine
Primary Ballot of Democratic
Senatorial Contest.

senatorial Contest.
Some misunderstanding exists re-
gardlng the operation of the second
choice provisions of the Direct Pri-
mary between Mr.. Bruce, Senator Lee
and Congressman Lewis. Is the first
time these provisions have been oper-
alive. Hitherto there has been no
more than two candidates al time for
state offices and necessarily one of
them receive a majority. There being
three candidates in the present primary,
it may be that no one will receive a ma
| jority on the first choice.
The second choice provision is that
governing the action of the state con-
vention in making nominations. 1t
provides that if there be more than two
candidates, and if none of them has a
majority all of the delegates in the con-
vention, the candidates having the few
est delegates shall be dropped and his
delegates shall cast their votes for one
or more of the other candidates &C.
cording as they reconstructed by their
people.
In case there are three candidates,
the dropping of one candidate and the
distribution of his votes among the
other two necessarily would cause one
of them to receive a majority and to
be declared the nominee. But in case
there are more than three candidates
and the dropping of the one having the
fewest delegates and the distribution of
his delegates among the others failed
to give any of the others a majority.
in that case, the candidate who started
with the fewest delegates would be
dropped and his delegates Distribute as
above, and so on. until one of the can
dldates had majority of the delegates.
There are other second choice pro-
visions which are not so we'll known.
One is that a candidate, in order to win
/ the delegation must receive a majority
of the votes cast in the primary in that
unit. In case none of the candidates
receive majority, the man receiving
the fewest votes is dropped and his
votes distributed among the remaining
candidates, according to the second
choice preference of those who voted
for him.
This requirement necessitates much
intricate work for the election officials.
And the supervisors of elections are
somewhat disturbed by fear that many
officials will not understand clearly
what must be done.
Instead of writing the names of the
candidates, one under the other, andthen
tallying the votes cast for each straight
across the tally sheet asusualthe officials
must have separate group for each
candidate. Thus, they must haye one tai
4 ly group for Mr.. Bruce, in which he will
appear as the alternative second choices.
Then, when ballot is opened and found
to be marked for Bruce for first choice
and Lee for second, Mr.. Bruce will be
given one tally in the first choice Sec
ton and Mr.. Lee one in the second
choice section of the Bruce group; if
/ the ballot is for Bruce first choice and
Lewis for second, Mr.. Bruce will be
given one tally in the first choice Sec
ton and Mr.. Lewis one in the second
choice section of the Bruce group.
There must be separate Lee tally
group, in which Mr.. Bruce and Mr..
Lewis will appear as the alternative
second choices; and separate Lewis
tally group, in which Mr.. Bruce and
Mr.. Lee will appear as the alternative
second choices. 1t then will be possible,
in the event that. no candidate has a
majority. to ascertain the second
choices of those who voted for the low
man, and to distribute his votes accord
ingly.
In case no man has majority and it
is necessary to drop the low man and
distribute his votes according to their
/ second-choice preferences, the candi-
date then receiving a majority becomes
the first choice and wins the delegation.
Next, it becomes necessary to ascertain
the second choice tor the delegation, to
meet the possibility that the units first
choice will be the low man in the con-
vention and will be dropped, thus re-
curing his delegates to have a second
choice candidate in the convention.