The Donaldsonville chief., 1920-07-24
NEW STATE ELECTION LAW.
Important Changes Made se@5nd
Primaries Done Away With

| EfiNnAFtGS lone away V1tn-
Under an act which was adopted
at the recent sessions Of the legisla-
ture, sevral important changes were
made in the primary election laws Of
the state, with reference to the ar
rangement Of polling booths, prepara-
ton OF ballots, selection of commits
sioncrs and eliminating second pri-
mariez.
In view Of the fact that the new
law will apply and govern the pri~
mary elections to BE- held Oh Septem
| Der IA, brief@ synopsis Of the act
will no doubt prove Of general inter-
t est.
| The new law amends Sections H.,
/ 18, %, "a, SO, 81 and "a Of Act
35 Of 1916.
Section II as amended provides
that any person desiring to become a
candidate in any primary election
held under the provisions of the act
|shall, within 20 days for state and
district officers and within 10 days for
parochial, municipal and ward Off
GERS, etS,, from and after the issuance
of the call OF the committee file with
the proper officer his written notili-
cation of intention to become can
didate at such primary with the usual
declaration that he is qualified
elector and a member Of the party
holding the primary. 1t further pro
vides that ''where more than one
judge, representative or senator Is
to be nominated at one time, the
number Of offices of judge, represen-
designated phabetically beginning
with the first letter, and any person
desiring to become a candidate shall!
in his written notification of such in
tention designate the division or clas-
sfication, "a o. e. ETC., as the case
may be, for which he desires to be-
come candidate, and in the event
there shall not be more than one ca,i-
didate for any designated division or
|classificatio at the close of nomina
tions, the proper party committee
shall be authorized and shall be here
by directed to declare such single
candidate party nominee for such
office and division or classification y
The effect of this change is appar-
lent. A candidate desiring to enter
La race where two or more are to be
elected must make his choice as to
which particular one he aspires to-
land thus his efforts and those of his
Friends will be concentrated on thai
particular race, thereby eliminating q
| free-for-all proposition.
Section 18 relates to the polling
I booths and their arrangement In
order to insure absolute secrecy, il
is provided that guard rail shall be
placed at each polling place at least
SO feet on either side Of the ballot
boxes and booths and each guard raj
is to have separate entrances anc
{ exits. During the time of voting nj
one shall be permitted within the bar
rier except the commissioners, com
missioned watchers and voters ac
tually engaged in voting. Some es
:, pecial provisions are int&duced te
, cover the New Orleans situation.
+ In every polling booth in the stats
, the arrangements Of the polling place
! shall be such that the booths can only
; be reached by passinga within the
= guard rail, and every part of the
a polling places except the interior Of
the booth shall be in plain view o1
: the commissioners and watchers ap
n pointed for the purpose Of watching
. the voter as he appears to cast hi
vote.
: The booths are to have doors ant
t if voter should neglect to close th'
door after him as he enters to pre-
pare his ballot, it becomes the dut.
of one of the commissioners or watch
f ers to close it for him.
: Any ballot prepared in any othe
e manner or any ballot wilfully exhib
tied will not be received by the com
i missioners, and if received shall no
e be counted.
= Any ballot which is protested TO
e anv reason shall have attached to
L by the commissioners memorandum
j. settings forth the ground of protes
and the name of the voter and tn
name of the challenger.
Section 23 as amended so as to d
away with the two clerks at each pre-
cinct. Instead there will be five com
, missioners at least. Each local can
II didate is to submit to the parish com
I|mittee on or before the 25th da
| prior to the preliminary date tn
Hname Of duly qualified voter t
II act as commissioner for each votin
! place in the parish, should there b
II FIVE or more local candidates. Shout
II there be three or four local candi
| dates each one shall submit the name
| by the candidates to the respectiv
| of two qualified voters to act as com
| missioners. These lists are to be sen
| parish or other committees.
II On the Goth day prior to the pr
| mary the parish committee shall cor
| vcne and from the names submitte
by the candidates select the five com
| missioners of election to preside owe
| each precinct. The present rule o
| drawing is the same as in the ol
| law. All names not drawn becom
| watchers, who are permitted With
the barriers during the polling 0
the vote, but who are not allowe