Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-08-08
Change in
Election Laws
Absent Voters Law Is Liberalized;
New Form of Presidential
Ballot Provided For.

Wisconsin voters viii find a
number Of changes in election laws
when they cast their next ballots as
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
absent voting were absence from
the election precinct on election day
for business purposes, and sickness
attested by a certificate from a ply
sician Under the new law any alb
sence from the precinct on election
day for any reason is sufficient, and
the physicians certificate TO prove
| sickness is rendered unnecessary To
further facilitate absent voting, it
is provided that ballots shall be in
the hands Of the local clerks at least
10 days before elections, instead Of
II hours as before, and that the
county clerk shall also retain suf-
| ficient number Of ballots to meet
calls for voting by mail It is fur
Their provided that absent voters
may vote in person in advance, and
that the clerks from whom they get
their ballots shall take their ack-
nowledgements, 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 pres-
dent and vice president, and voters
will vote directly for these cand-
dates and not for the l3 electors
who represent them, as heretofore.
Votes cast for the presidential and
vice presidential candidates count
as votes for the presidential cleo
tors selected by the party they re-
present. This places all candidates
on the same plane, and eliminates
the necessity, of making 13 crosses
to vote for an independent candi-
date
Corrupt Practices Act Strengthened.
Another law strengthens the cor
rupt practices act in its application
to semi-political organizations. A
1928 law required all corporations
and committees who make expendi-
lures on behalf 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, organization, or group
which advocates, endorses or OPP
poses any party, faction or candi-
date. amendment or referendum
measure, or which through paid adj
vertisements advocates or opposes
any government action or policy All
such corporations and organizations
must file a statement giving its
name. the names and addresses OF
its officers. the nature Of its organi-
cation, the sources of its income and
the purposes for which it expects
TO make expenditures or receive
contributions, before it makes any
such expenditures or receives contri-
buttons. They must also file a state.
ment Of all their expenditures and
contributions on the second Satur.
day preceding any election or pri.
mary and must follow this up by q
| final statement of all their expendi
lures and contributions on the sec
ond Saturday preceding any election
or primary and must follow thG
| up by final statement within three
weeks after the election or primary
The effect of this law is TO make 20
! lltical organizations other than par
~ committees subject to the sam,
regulations regarding publicity Of
campaign contributions and expen
dtures as have heretofore apple,
to candidates and party committees
May Change Party Name.
The last of the important new
election laws is chapter 44s, whiel
was one of the most bitterly contcs
ted of the bills of the 1925 session
This contest occurred principally
over the provision urder which tn,
state central committee of any par
ty may change the name thereof
with the approval Of the nationa
committee of such party. This con
test ohscured the most importan
provision in this act which afford.
a means by which the vote cast "a,
Ia Follettee for president in 1872
may BE made the basis for d perma
nent new political party IN this
state. This occurs in the provision
that if any party not heretofor,
having regular party column re
ceived at least one per cent Of tn,
total vote for president in the state
such party may secure ii party col
ump and a separate primary cleo
ton ticket upon application there
fer by the chairman and secretary
IF lis central committee. Tn,
name Of such new party cannot du
Iphcate the name OF amy existing
| party
Hurley Again Loses 70 Wakefield.
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