The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-16
BOARD WOULD CUT
ELECTION DISTRICTS
Saving Of 81 1000 Year Es-
timatcd In Recommends
tons to Mayor.
MACHINES DENOUNCED

Eight recommendations for cha nges In
the election law are made in the annual
report which the Board OF Elections sub
mitted yesterday to Mayor Mitchell. Or
these the board considers "a proposed re-
duction in the number OF election dis
tricts Ms quito the most important. at
least from the standpoint OF economy.
At present tho 2.O77 election districts
In the greater city are established and
their boundaries fixed with duo regard 10
Congressional Municipal Court, Senate.
Assembly and Aldcrmin!c district lines.
and AS a result the number OF voters In
these districts varies greatly. The law
provides that AN average district shall
contain $50 voters. "A maximum district
400 and n minimum district 100.
Provision is also made 40 that districts
containing less thar IS voters made
necessary by the crossing OF Congress
sional lines with those Of other political
subdivisions may be consolidated with
. contiguous district In years when no
Representative in Congress IL to be
voted for. and when the number OF reg
istered voters In an election district con-
tinues less han 100 for two consecutive
years the board may consolidate it with
a contiguous district.
This board IL of the opinion reads
the report, that Il should he vested with
power to recast and rearrangc election
districts icithin Assembly district lines
In the year 1916. following the deem
NAL reapportionment OF Senate and As
sembly districts, such power being there
after limited. as II is at present. but the
minimum district to be increased to 200
and the maximum to $50.
Use of Public schools.
with the more general use Of public
o FOR e%lection purposes. among the
direct beneficial results of which will be
the practical elimination of small and
otherwise undesirable polling places. IL
10 anticipated that the expeditions and
orderly voting OF $50 persons In each
election district VIII be comparatively
easy to accomplish. With LEGISLATION
permitting an average election district
Of $50 voters, 1t is estimated that this
hoard can reduce the number OF these
political units 80 as to reflect "A saving
compared with the cost under the exist
Ing system OF about silb.o0O in the
year following It's enactment, and an in
.creasing amount thereafter In proper
lion as the voting population grows.
This IL estimated upon "A basis Of re-
ductng III" present number OF election
districts cord TO 1871 by conssliiat-
ing or eliminating ESQ OF these districts
at a saving in cost of $500 a district.
Another item which the city might
'" eHdbltd 10 save is the annual ex-
penditure by the ctr Record for pub
liehing the registration OF voters. In
1915 his amounted TO si4.ls53 IS. This
Work Is duplicated By the Board OF
Etections' An amendment to the cleo
non law providing for such publication
by the Boaid or elections rthtp los
Ho"'s olter the close OF each dHn~a
'epS''rdt,on tine Italics being new mat
VI, anu the fepeai or ma part OF n
eiun'iar "harter provision 'Section l521(,
"nic" IeluIres the same thing to be
.o"e U! we Guy accord VIII accomplish
!" uesi' result an" erect the saving
o,' a~HhuunceN' as INDICATED IN
.u n',m1 ol's "epoit' mat practically
In 'so"u s1"oo's ~tm.ough"ut the city
~ vs. az po'ihs places at the
g. I o !" 'He spring. Ihe
....an ~ iu''"eI man tne
St.,~." -" ,o.'o"i'a'es shu ASKS al
no..,ha. "e,s''.l'H Mnettoy u VIII De
g.. " uoyse more man one polling
r.-'' "h '"'''.uu'' ScIooI "nen coh-
Nnmar % ''tt''", rehoers MS ar
'o". p'"N'''""'e'
ASnihst N0ttng Machines.
A strong nro,ounc.nor i. sod.
against tho use of voting rachin.s