The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-02-28
WAYS TO EXPEDITE
COUNTING BALLOTS
BEING CONSIDERED
The Kansas Law. Providing for a
Double Election Board, Proves
Satisfactory; West Virginia Is
Contemplating Similar Measure.
nv A.soeinied Prs.

-
By Associated Press.
New York, Feb. 2~S.-IndicatiOns
that one Of the greatest obstacles TO
the prompt announcement OF election
results. such as handicapped the news
papers IN the last presidential election
may be removed before another presl-
dential year. are reflected In the aC-
tion Of the West Virginia legislature.
following the example set by Kansas.
In the creation Of what Is called "a
double election board"
The measure is hailed by West Nir-
ginia pers as one that will be
appreciated by the general publ to
u greater extent than IL realized by
those not familiar with the present
membranes which surround oallot-
counting. They declare that the sue
cess OF the experiment IN Kansas last
fall should attract attention In other
states as a possible relief from such
uncertainty as the whole country Ia
bored under for several days after tho
last election.
Kansas. considering It's difference
in time as compared with the eastern
states, was the first OF all states TO
begin figures on its election last Mo-
Vember eth. This was "A surprise gem
orally to other states until II was
discovered that the secret OF Kansas
promptness was "A system known as
the double election board.
Voting Methods Not Changed.
This system does not In any sense
revOlutionize present methods of got.
ing. but simply makes Il possible that
the ballots may be counted almost
simultaneously with the casting ~
them, with the result that the vote Is
known Immediately upon he closing
Of the polls.
The kansas law provides that It
alt general elections the national and
state tickets shall he printed upon
one ballot. and the district. county
and township tickets shall be printed
upon another ballot. and that al cttn
voting precinct live separate ballot
boxes shall be provided, " boxes In
duplicate for the national and ltate
ballots. and that there shall be two
boards of election officers, ~ 20 be
known AZ the receiving board-to re-
ceivc ballots and guard their proper
placement In the boXes-and the other
to he a counting board.
\ few hours after the opening Of
the polls the national and state ballot
,,,cd nl.,,s ,nd dnnltcn,. hox,s
nt,rcd a. mir stcaa whiIc tbe count.
- - ro,,r.s urdo, ur,,.r .,fc.
g,ards cmr,ies IN. ,irst 80, al box,s
.nd cnu,,y ~, bniIo,s Amor nnotLer
I,,cr,,I ,ba bnxrs ne. ,-xchnnptd
Iupain. and the ou..nting prncved,d
with len this manner Il simpi, relay
throughout the day.
The old method which stili obtains
IN an states except Kansas ana Wcst
Virginia. requires the casting Of the
ballot before any counting l. done.
and this involved In some places from
six tn forty-eight hours. delaying a
Sun greater time the compilation ot a
state or national vote.
Result Delayed SiN Weeks.
IN, nc, - ia. No, Ntrptpt, l,ris.
Iau,re in foIlowinp IN, Knnsa. exam.
al. h ,,ii.d IA, Nyi.r nan ,f,er Tames
~ Wicr , ncvvsunue, man who is "A
n,,r,h,r 80 ia. Nost Nirpipin I.pisin-
mr. ana vhn deemea tbnt snm. al
TN, ,t,rt,ol aud u~.rhuufcnl hapdfoaus
of eloctiou rcportipr bclonped "a, The
d,vs ub,u r,iks d,r,ndaJ imam IN,
stnr, ,nneb.mail far their news. I'm.
s,,,d az m, nrcsent or, al Tho telc.
uborc mud wireless telerropb In West
vtrui,i, tnr cxnu,nl. M th. last
= ~Ioctinn n was "A week befor. II VAS
kr,y,r nosi,bvciy hoyy Tho star. had
tgnu, ana n vns six weeks hcrnro tho
eaac, figures were compiled and pub
.lishod
what mn, orrosi,ion ANS met with
, ~ we" Sf m, " Knnsou !" me sIsI' w"s t., a"V IN,
B eff,gt thai rho doubIp election board