The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-02-12
Brattleb0ro's Population
Makes That System
Compulsory
STATEMENT BY
COUNSEL FOR TOWN
Federal Census Shows Inhabitants of
Over 5000, Bringing Town Within
Statute Requiring Australian Ballot
Nominations Must Be Filed.

One of the results of Brattleboro's in
crease in population as shown by the last
federal census is that hereafter in town
meetings the Australian system of voting
must be used, so long as the present state
law covering the subject is in force. A
town having less than 5000 population
may use the Australian system if it
chooses to do so. or it may use the old
fashioned way it all depends upon the
wishes of the voters. In other words.
there is nothing compulsory about it, ex-
ccpt that if such town wishes to use the
Australian ballot it must vote to do so
under conditions named in the statute.
But when a towns population exceeds
5000 there is no choice under the law
and it must use the Australian system.
Therefore Brattlebor0 must vote by the
Australian plan hereafter, beginning with
the coming annual meeting March l, and
this law requires the filing of nomination
papers. This system IS not necessary,
however, in the village meeting. as the
village population is less than 5000.
Attention is called to the law covering
this question by Attorney Arthur T. Car
penteT. counsel fer the town of Brattle-
b0ro. in o communication to The Reform
ney Carpenter has conferred with Attor-
ney y. f. Schwenk. moderator, and with
other lawyers. all of whom agree with his
Interpretation of the law on the subject.
Attorney Carpenter writes:
Editor of The Reformer:
In the matter of our annual town meet
ing which will be held March 1. | wish
TO call attention OF the voters to the fact
that BrattleborO, according to the 1920
federal census, has a population of 1892
Our state law, as | interpret it, requires
towns with population of 5000 or more
to elect their town officers by the So
called Australian ballot system, hence, in
order to have a legal election of town
officers this year we will have to use
that system. Towns of less than 5000
population may use the Australian ballot
II they vote To do 50. and acting under
that law at a special meeting in 1915 we
voted to adopt that system. Our popula-
ton at that time as shown by the federal
census of 1910 was less than 5000. but at
the annual town meeting in 1917 we
voted to rescind the vote OF 1915 and have
since been voting in the old way. Person
ally / would prefer TO continue in that
way. 1t Is less expensive and the results.
III my opinion, are fully as satisfactory
in town of this size, but as | understand
the law we have no option in the matter.
The law provides that candidates for
office may have their names printed upon
the official ballot by filing certificates of
nomination with the town clerk signed by
legal voters of the town to the number of
at least l per cent of the total vote cast
for governor in this town at the last pre-
ceding general election. Certificates must
be filed not more than so and not less
than l. days before the day of election.
| am advised that the total vote for
governor in the last election was a little
more than 2.400. therefore. it will require
at least p names to file a certificate
This certificate should be filed before l.
o'clock Monday night.
| hope as wide publicity as possible may
be given to this notice to the end that all
candidates may have fair and equal
chance to get their names upon the official
ballot.
Thanking YOU in advance for giving this
the necessary space in your paper, L am
Respectfully
ARTHUR Z. CARPENTER.
Attorney for the Town of Brattleboro.
Feb. l., 1921.