The Donaldsonville chief., 1920-07-24

conduct ~ the election and the COM
missioners must protect them in the
discharge Of their duties
lnA the case Of a primarA where
thereSare no local officers tosbe nom
mated, the candidates for state and
district Offices or congress shall send
in to the various parish committees
the name Of one or more qualified
voters fSr eeah. precinct.
The act defines a local candidate as
one Aspiring to either house Of the
general assembly or any parish or
municipal Office except a justice Of
the peace or constable
1t is Of interest to note that in
case no commissioner of election
should he present at the time for
opening the polls or for one hour
thereafter, the voters Of the precinct
shall hold a meeting and elect the
commissioners who thereupon per-
form all the duties Of the regularly
selected commissioners.
If there be only one commissioner
present, he shall select another, and
they shall select the third, and these
thrd a fourth end these four n fifth.
Section "a provides that any per-
son desiring to vote shall give his
name to any one Of the commission
ers who shall thereupon announce the
name in a loud and distinct tone Of
voice and this must be repeated on
the outside by a watcher designated
by the commissioners.
The remainder of the procedure
is the same as at present, except that
in cities of more than 100, 900 inhabi-
tants, the poll lists must be signed
by the voter before he shall be allow
ed to cast his ballot.
Section 25 prescribes the duties Of
the secretary of state, in TIE mSpner
Of instituting contests, etc.
A most interesting and important
change in the present law, and one
which eliminates second primary, Is
the following:
In all cases where there is to be
nominated only one. candidate for a
particular office, the elector shall in
dicate his first choice, and without
being required to do so, may indi-
cate second choice, and ballots shall
be printed accordingly. If candi-
date receives majority of votes of
the first choice, he shall receive the
nomination. In case no candidate
shall receive a majority of first choice
votes, then the nomination for sucf
office shall lay between the two can
didates receiving the highest number
of first choice votes, and the deter
mination as between said two highes'
candidates receiving first choice votes
shall be by adding to their first choice
|votes the second choice votes the.
respectively received, and the candi
date as between these two who re
ceived the greatest number OF frs
and second choice votes shall be de
clared nominated; in other words, le
US suppose that A, and c are as
piring for the same Office, with one tt
be nominated, further let us suppose
THAT 100 votes were cast in the cleo
ton. A gets 40 first choice and 81
Isecond choice, B receives 35 frs
choice and SO second choice, and {
gets 25 first choice and 20 secont
choice. It is clear that no one ha:
|received a majority of first choice
votes. 1t is equally clear that c
Having received the smallest numbe1
of first choice, is eliminated and ths
|selection must be made between 4
and B. Then A having received A
first choice and 80 second choice, ha
a total of 70 votes. B has 35 frs
|choice votes and 0ssecond choice, O
a total. of IS, and in consequence re
ceives the nomination. o
| Section 80 provides FIJI the pre-
lection thrown around each poll il
cities and provides penalties for VIC
lation of the act and the last sectlol
amended number 80, provides punish
ment for the elector who attempt
dual voting.
4 S..L ~ +o "a