Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-12-12
DESTROYING OUR ELECTION SIS.
TEN.

system under which we have been
operating for a good many years is Its
Its intent is to make u cleo
tons as free as is humanity possible
from corruption, intimidation, or any
other influence that will tend to inter- |
fere with the free and Independent
action of the voter. Our laws. provide
that the voter may cast his ballot Sc
cretly. They do more They provide
that he must vote secretly. The voter
hot only has the privilege of doing his
voting FREQ from observation, but he
Is prohibited from exhibiting his
marked ballot t any person unless.
because of disability, he Is incapable
Of voting without assistance. In that
case he may be assisted by persons
who are acting as officers Of the state
for that purpose, and who are under
oath not to divulgo the manne in
which he voted.
The reason for oil this is plain. If
the voter were permitted to exhibit his
ballot and thus disclose the manner in
which his vote is cast, bribery would
pc facilitated, as the briber, before
making payment, could insist on hav-
ing evidence that the goods had beer
delivered. AS it is, q corrupt voter,
though willing to Sell his vote, cannot
prove delivery, and the briber is sell
dom willing to pay his money on an
uncertainty.
Further. publicity in voting provides
opportunity for intimidation. The
voter, for any one OF a multitude of
reasons, may fear to incur the dis
pleasure of some other person, and
rather than do so will vote as the 9TH
er directs, If his vote is open to OBJ
%servation. With the secret ballot the
voter is independent.
The bin which has just been pass
ed by the legislature providing for
ions-distance voting by persons who
live more thar half. a mile from the
polling place is one of the most vicious
piece Of legislation ever enacted, and
It. is probably not putting the case too
strongly to say that it is the most
ticpus eve enacted in North Dakota.
Its intent is. and If it goes into opera
ton, its effect will be to destroy alb
solutely the secrecy of the ballot in al
most every rural district in the state,
and seriously to impair it's secrecy in
every precinct.
1t was reported at one time that the
Phil introduced in the senate had been
amended SO as to apply only to women
voters. but this statement, made by Mr.
1amke, was false, unless this bill has
been subjected in its transition from
one house to another to the jockeyins
that has been attempted with some
others. The people who now rule owe,
us appear to consider it quite permits.
sible to falsify records in order t.
gain their detectives. If the bill ap.
piled to women voters only it woulG
be equally Objectionable within the
} sield of its operation for g. woman.
, vote is just as sacred as a MANS, bu'
as the bill appeared in the house i
} covered everything.
This bill is intended to enable tn,
agents of Townley to gather up vote
> by the sackful in advance Of ever,
election, making sure by personal in
spection and supervision that the bal
lots are properly marked. That will
be bad enough, in all conscience. Blu
that is not all. 1t will subject eyer
: voter in the state to the importunit
u OF every local boss, no matter wha
: his political complexion, for the de
: livery of that vote to that person or hi
agent. 1t destroys utterly the safe
c guards which have been built u
e around our elections through years o
q effort, and which have given US a sys
tenn whose main feature, that of sec
recy, cannot be impaired without il
s reparable injury to the state.
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