Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-22
VOTING MACHINES.
IMuscat!ns Journal

Scott county is now debating the aa-
visibility OF installing voting machines
Members Of he Scott county board Of
supervisors on Saturday returned from
a tour Of investigation. They visited
several progressive localities in Iowa
where the modern form Of voting is III
vogue. The Scott county supervisors
are reported to be enthusiastically in
favor Of the installation OF tho ma
chimes. The officials visited Burling-
ton n Dies Moines where an Impair
tial investigation convinced them not
only Of the popularity and efficiency of
the machines but establishe ed the econ
omy Of the mechanical process OF vote
t%abulation.
Polk county in which Des Moines Is
located was found to have cut the cost
OF elections 30 per cent and in Bur
nngton the same saving has been ef-
fected. The big saving it Is stated,
comes in eliminating the cost Of print
ing the ballots and in reducing pay for
judges and clerks in working over
time. In the last general election the
election Judges and officials IN Polk
county were thru with their work two
hours after the polls CLOSED while in
Scott county Judges and clerks turned
in bills for nifty hours work.
Many who have o Investigated the
operation OF a voting machine fear that
their installation would result in con
fusion. il was found thai in the coun-
ties where the machines are in use that
they are widely popular for the indi-
v!dusl voter knows that his vote will
be registered just as he wishes il to be.
Meddling with the machines WAS
found TO be impossible while protective
counting devices provide a double
check on the honesty OF the vote.
No spoiled ballots can result for the
voter can vote for only the proper num-
Der of candidates as the machine locks
against other candidates for the same
office.
For Scott county to install the ma
chimes would call for an expenditure of
S42.sA0. The list price Of the most ap-
proved machine Is t7s5 and Scott coun-
" with It's thirty-seyen precin,s 10 ex-
psctsd to need about ifty-four ma
chimes.
For MuscAtine county to install the
machines would not require such an
outlay Al the precincts are fewer.
Nearby counties will watch with In
terest the action Of the Scott county
board. 1t is generally believed n a the
next few years will witness a general
adoption OF this form OF vote tabula-
ton.
As the most progressive commun!-
ties generally adopt the machines
It will force others I do likewise. With
other counties in the district reporting
the complete vote OF an election two
hours after the polls close Muscatine
would not long remain content to wait
eighteen hours for the result Of the vote
at home.
The installation OF the machines like
the adoption OF other progressive meas
ures confers benefits most a~bundantly
upon the communities first to initiate
them. Installing voting machines is in
the nature Of an investment as IL elm
mates waste. II a county is to install
the machines 1t liz better to do so today
wait Ave years for in the latter
event the savings which might have
been effected with each election are
lost.
II the voting machine will cut down
the expense Of an election the invest
ment Is a merited one.