The Mena weekly star., 1918-02-14
NEW LAW GOVERNS
 PRIMARY ELECTION
Must Have Poll Tax Paid Since Jan uary 1, 1918, in Order to Vote Brundidge Law Has Number
 of Intricacies.

Little Rock, Feb 4.-primary elec- tions this year are to be held under the provisions of the so-called Brundidge Law. This act was en- acted and adopted by the people and is somewhat complex in it's provis- ions. In fact, there is already con- siderable speculation as to its ap- plication, but lawyers are working for an unraveling of it's intrlcacies, and it's application to the ensuing state primary on May 2S Is being watched with great interest.
 Attorney General Arbuckle, in an official opinion, has just pointed out one radical change that it makes from the old law Under the pre- eeding statue legaizing primaries it was required that the voter must possess a poll tax receipt for the year next preceding that in which the election was held. But the pri- .maries were then held in March, during the tax collecting season. Now they are to be held the last of May. and the season for the eolec- ton of taxes without the payment of penalties closes on April i0 II is therefore held under the new law that the voter must have a poll tax receipt for the taxes of the year next proceeding, or one that has been issued since January of the year in which the election is held
 One of the provisions of the law that has been puzzling the officials is as follows:
 The County Central Committee may, when the vote to be east in the precinct shall exceed one hum dred votes, designate one or more additional boxes for said precinct, and judges and clerks shall be ap- pointed for each box in said pre- cinct.'
 It will be observed that this pro- vision is not mandatory, but only optional. If a polling place were required for every 100 votes cast, there would be more than fifty vot- ing places in Little Rock and the cost would be prohibitive. There are now fourteen precincts in the city and each costs an average of S36. If there should be fifty, it would cost the candidates approxi- mately $500 to hold an election in the city of Little Rock alone. But the use of may instead of shall" enables the election officials to hold down the number of precincts.
 The law is designated expedite the official returns, to safeguard the ballot, and provide machinery for the prevention of fraud The pro- vision for the signing of the voters name to his ballot comes from this law.
 Violations of the law arc punish able by severe penalties. Fines of from Si00 to $500, and Imprisonment from 30 days to i2 months, for vio- lation of any of the following, which are declared misdemeanors:
 knowingly casting a vote when the voter is not a qualified elector.
 Knowingly receiving a vote when the voter is not qualified elector.
 Casting a vote in a primary of party to which the voter does not adhere, or affiliate, provided, this does not apply to anyone in good faith abandoning previous political affiliations.
 The wrongful and fraudulent cer- tiiication of any vote or return.
 A wrongful OF fraudulent sum- mary of the vote posted or filed with the county clerk
 The destruction, abstraction or taking away of ballots, lists of vot- CTS returns or certificates, or the making of false certificates.
 The failure of the judges and clerks to make or deliver the lists and certificates required.
 The willful tearing down or de- struction of the summary of votes posted at the election precinct by the judges and clerks.
 Giving or receiving money or any, thing of value to influence vote.
 The willful violation of any other provision of the Act.
 It will be seen that the law makes many radical changes in the man. ner of conducting elections, all of them designed to make the elections fair and honest
 It rudely shatters what former election manipulators considered their inalienable rights to run elec- tions to suit themselves, securing office for whisky and influence and personal gain.
 The days have forever gone when dead men and Newfoundland dogs were voted, when minorities were manipulated into majorities. and when elections were looked upon more nrt laes az a farnn