Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-15
Higgins Bill for Absent
Voter Casting His Ballot

! Voter Casting His Ballot
Senator Leon F. Higgins of Penob-
scot county will this week introduce in
| the House an unique measure, an act
/ to authorize voters absent from the
/ city, town or plantation in which they
are qualified to vote to vote therein
by having their ballot delivered by
mail to the city, town or plantation
clerk on election day and TO regulate
such manner of voting.
Section l OF the proposed act pro-
Nides that the secretary of State in adj
dition TO the ballots now required TO
! be sent to the several city, town and
plantation clerks shall prepare and
transmit to such clerks so that it shall
| be received by him not less than six
! days prior TO any general state or fed
oral election a package Of not less than
! 10 per cent. OF the total number Of
ballots now provided by law to be
/ sent to such city, town or plantation
clerk. The ballots SO sent shall be seal
ed and have stamped printed or writ
ten on the outside of the covers there
of the words, Ballots for absent
voters" The package shall have there
on the certificate of the secretary of
State, setting forth the exact number
! of ballots the package contains, and
| the secretary of State shall keep q
record thereof.
| Section provides that the seal of
the package shall not be broken b.
the city, town or plantation clerk to
whom it is sent except for the purpose
of sending or actually delivering a
ballot to some person properly apply
ing therefor. The city, town or plan
tation clerk upon breaking the seal
and opening the package of ballots so
received, shall count the same and en-
ter the number so received upon q
book which he shall keep as public
record for that purpose In the book
shall also be kept record of the
names and addresses OF all persons
applying for such ballots and the time
when such ballots are mailed or de
livered to the applicant. In such book
! shall also be kept a record of the time
| including the hour and minute of the
receipt of any envelope supposed to
inclose an absent voters ballot.
! Section provides that any person
entitled and duly qualified to vote in
any city, town or plantation in this
State at any general State or Presi-
Dental election who is absent from
such city, town or plantation on the
day such general election is held may
vote therein by delivering his ballot in
iperson prior TO election day or by hav-
ing his ballot delivered by mail to the
| city, town or plantation clerk, as the
case may he and by the clerk de-
yposited in the ballet box of the proper
voting place, ward or precinct thereof
before the polls are closed, as re
quired by law, by complying with the
provisions of this act
| Section 4 provides that a person en-
titled and duly qualified to vote in any
city, town or plantation at any such
general election day may not more
than 80 nor less than three days be-
fore the day of the holding of such
election make application in writing
subscribed by him to the city, town or
plantation clerk for ballot or ballots
to be delivered to him for the purpose
| of absent voting which application
shall be on a blank furnished him by
such city, town or plantation clerk.
Section provides that the applicant
shall pay to the city, town or planta-
tipn clerk fee of so cents, the money
so received by the clerk shall be kept
! in a separate fund and shall be ex-
pended by the clerk in paying the
postage and expenses provided for
transmitting and depositing the ballot.
| The act also provides that after hav-
! ing complied with all the requirements
in the preparation of his ballot and
the certificate the voter may deliver in
person said return envelope" 70 the
city clerk not later than IL hours be-
fore the opening of the polls at such
general election or may at such time
as will insure its delivery to the city,
town or plantation clerk in season for
the same to be PLACED IN the ballot box
deposit the return envelope in a post
office, government mail box or railway
mail car in transit.
| The act further provides that printed
on the back of the Voters Certificate"
shall be the following directions to
voters:
| (A) You may mark and mail your
ballot at any place within the United
States or the Dominion of Canada
OBJ The ballot must be marked and
sealed in the Ballot Envelope" in the
presence of an attesting witness but in
such manner as to prevent such wit
ness or any other person from know
| ing or learning how you have voted as
to any candidate or proposition.
| (C) After marking and enclosing
ballot in the Ballot Envelope" you and
attesting witness must each sign your
respective names to the voters certifi-
cate"
| CD Do not put Voters Certificate"