Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-08-13
Absent Voters Have
More Time On Ballot
NEW FORM OF PRESIDENTIAL
BALLOT PROVIDED FOR
ABSENT VOTERS

Der of changes in election laws when
they cast their next ballots as a result
of the work of the last legislature
One new act liberalizes the absent
voters law Heretofore, the only two
reasons which might be given for alb
sent voting were absence from the
election precinct on election day for
business purposes, and sickness attest
ed by certificate from physician.
Under the new law any absence from
the precinct on election day for any
reason is sufficient, and the physic-
ian's certificate to prove sickness is
rendered unnecessary To further fai
cilitate absent voting, it is provided
that ballots shall be in the hands of
the local clerks at least 10 days be.
fore elections, instead of IL hours as
before, and that the county clerk shall
also retain a sufficient number of bal
lots to meet calls for voting by mail
1t is further provided that absent vo.
ters may vote in person in advance,
and that the clerks from whom they
get their ballots shall take tneir ack.
acknowledgements, eliminating notary
charges.
New Presidential Ballot
Another law provides for new
form of presidential ballot, copying
the so-called Nebraska ballot" On
this new ballot will appear only the
names of the candidates for presi
dent and vice president, and voters
will vote directly for these candidates
and not for the 13 electors who re
present them, as heretofore votes cast
for the presidential and vice .presiden
tial electors selected by the party they
represent. This places all candidates
on the same plane, and eliminates the
necessity, of making Ii crosses tC
vote for an independent candidate.
Corrupt Practices Act Strengthened
Another law strengthens the cor
rupt practices act in its application tc
semi-political organizations. A 1925
law required all corporations and com
mittees who make expenditures on be
half of candidates to file statements
of these expenditures, but this law
was vaguely worded and could not be
enforced. The new act very definitely
applies to every corporation, organi
cation, CT group which advocates, en-
dorses or opposes any party, faction OF
candidate, amendment or referendum
measure, or which through paid ad
vertisements advocates or opposes
any government action or policy. Al
such corporations and organization
must file statement giving it's name
the names and actresses of it's officers
the nature of its organization, the
sources of its income and the purpose
for which it expects to make expendi
lures or receive contributions, before
it makes any such expenditures Oh
receives contributions. They must
also file a statement of all their ex
penditures and contributions on the
second Saturday preceding any cleo
ton or primary and must follow this
up by a final statement of ell their
expenditures and contributions on the
second Saturday preceding any cleo
tion or primary and must follow this
up by final statement within three
weeks after the election or primary.
The effect of this law is to make po-
litical organizations other than party
committees subject to the same regu-
iations regarding publicity of cam
paign contributions and expenditures
as have heretofore applied to candi-
dates and party committees.
May Change Party name
The last of the important new cleo,
ton laws is chapter 448, which was
one of the most bitterly contested of
the bills of the 1925 session. This con
test occurred principally over the pro.
vision under which the state central
committee of any party may change
the name thereof, with the approval
of the national committee of such par,
ty. This contest obscured the most i'm
portant provision in this act which
affords means by which the vote
cast for LaFollette for president in
1924 may be made the basis for per-
manent new political party in this
state. This occurs in the provision
that if any party not heretofore having
a regular party column received at
least one per cent of the total vote
for president in the state, such party
may secure party column and a sep
arate primary election ticket upon an
plication therefor by the chairman and
secretary of it's central committee.
The name of such new party cannot
duplicate the name of any existing
Marty