Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-08-14
The NEW BALLOT.

Radical Changes In the One TO be
Useti At the september Election.
Al the State election on Monday, Sept
., nes form OF nslios wih be used Tor
the first time 10 q state election. Voters
In Ellsworth have had opportunity to be-
come acquainted wiih the mes ballot, as IT
was used in tue municipal election. bat In
the towns ID will be entirely new to the
voters.
The nes ballot retains some OF the good
features Of the old ballot, bat has iReor-
porated sxi5e OF those OF the MHssAeha-
sets ballot, after which, In . general way,
IL Is patterned.
In the .first place, the use Of "stickers"
is eliminated. The new lsw says, stick
ers shall not be cogated.uniess used to fIl
vacancy on the ticket or TO correct an
error In the printed ballot"
Oath ne a ballot the candidates OF one
party sill be grouped as heretofore, with
g large sau&ts al The top OF the column in
hicn the voter may place cross in case
he elects to vote a straight ticket. At the
right OF each name printed ON the baiio;
Will be small square, and underneath the
Candidates name will be blank space
with a square al the right. Whereas
heretofore the cross In the square has
been the enc essential feature OF The ballot,
without y hieh no ro.e could be counted,
under the ne~ iaw il Is entirely optional
with The voter wbesher be places cross
in the large square al The head of the
column or not.
He may vote = straight ticket by placing
a cross 10 tae bag square, or be may omit
the cross in that place and check each
name in the eosamn by placing cross In
the small square a; TIE right of each name.
II there is a candidate in the party column
for "a HON he does not desire TO vote, be
usy draw bis pencil through such name
with the effect that the vote shall not be
counted for that particular candidate.
IL he desires TO vote for the candidate of
another party for that offIce. he may
simply go over into the column where the
candidates mans appears and make
check mark in the small square at the
fight of such name, with the effect that he
has voted for all candidates in the column
over which be has placed bis cross, with
the exception OF the Candidate which be
has stricken out. and be has also voted tor
the candidate in the other party column at
the right OF whose name he has placed tue
cross.
II 1t Is desired to vote Tor person for
some particular Office, whose name is not
on the ballot, tie voter may do so by
striking out the name OF the candidate in
tse column over which he has placed his
cross and writing In the ae~ name in the
blank space underneath the name ~hieh
il stricken out.
radical departure in the manner OF
voting is provided by the new law
whereby the voter may omit the cross 10
the square at the top of the column and
place q cross in the small square at the
right OF the name of any c&nditsts for
whom he desires to vote in any of the
party columns, sith the effect that be has
voted for only such candidates as be has
checked, IL the voter elects TO mark his
ballot in this manner, be may vote Tor
g person whose name is not on The ballot
by simply striking out the name OF a
candidate printed under the designation !
OF the office IN any of the party columns,
writing in the new name in the blank |
space underneath and making cross in |
the square at the right.
When the voters become familiar with
the new manner of voting, il will in all /
pro liability result in a decrease in the
number Of defective ballots cast at each
election. II tue voter follows instructions
and holds to one manner OF voting, he
will find the manner very simple. II,
however, he mixes methods, ne will with
out doubt tnd himself beyond his depth. 4
II would seem, however, that trouble /
might arise, when the voter attempts TO
split his ticket. The ideal way to DO this
would appear to be by the use cttbe cheek
marks in the small squares.
An attempt will be made to secure the
soldier vote this fall in environments
where possible. II will be necessary to ,
print about 10000 ballots to take care of I
both soldier and regular vote.