Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-06-09
Vote And Vote
Correctly!

some voters are not informed as to
the correct way of voting, or they
become careless. That has been in
creasingly the case since the new
consolidated primary ballot has been
brought into use in Minnesota. The
new ballot arrangement, offering all
three parties on one large sheet of
paper has proved too much of
temptation to many voters and many
of them have marked their "Xs" all
over it. Needless to say that method
has spoiled the ballot. The same will
be the case this year unless voters
make study of their ballot before
voting.
The best and surest way to do
that is to study the ballot which is
published in this paper and advise
your friends to do the same In
structions printed thereon say plainly
how it is to be voted and practically
every family has at least one member
who knows how to vote correctly.
It is no disgrace to make a mis-
take at the polls with the ultimate
cost of having ones ballot thrown
out as void, but it would seem that
as simple as is the task, almost every
one could master it.
The purpose of this editorial is
to acquaint, as simply as possible,
everyone with the process of voting
on Monday, June 20. The CONSOLE
dated primary ballot contains the
three parties, Farmer-Labor to the
left, the Republican next and the
Democratic list of candidates to the
extreme right as one reads it. In
a bold box at the top of each ticket
of candidates are the words, "You
cannot split your ballot. If you vote
for candidates of more than one
party, your ballot will be rejected"
That statement is as plain as the
''nose on ones face" but many, many
times it is not read in the haste
of voting The statement means just
who is normally member of an
other party and desires to cast his
vote for one gubernatorial candidate
on the Farmer-Labor ticket, he can
not again go back and vote on his
Republican ticket. He must either
let his vote for the Farmer-Labor
Governor suffice or 60 right on down
the line on the same list.
Most people, however, recognize
the office of Governor to be the
most important and therefore mark
the cross after the name of their
choice, fold up the ballot and hand it
to the election clerk. He can still vote
for legislative candidates and county
officers, because they are all printed
on another ballot which will be
handed to him along with the large
consolidated ballot.
The penalty, therefore, for voting
in more than one column on the
large consolidated primary ballot is
the loss of your vote. Many Repub-
1icans and Democrats, this year have
signified their intention of stepping
over to the Farmer-Labor side of the
consolidated ballot to vote for HAL
mar Petersen in order to make sure of
elimination of Elmer A. Benson, pres
ent Governor, but when they do that
they cannot vote for any of their
own ticket at the primary. However,
most of them reason that their chief
desires this year is the elimination
of Benson. Their legislative candi-
dates, whose names are on another
ballot anyway, are the next of i'm
portance to them and they can still
vote for them.
Final advice then to voters who
are not sure of themselves when it
comes to voting, is to make study
of the method of voting properly
the new consolidated ballot If you
are not sure, then ask some one whom
you are sure does know.
Vote the way your convictions tell
you, but vote correctly. That is the
franchise of every citizen Remem-
Der the primary election is on Mon
day, June 20, and it is your duty
to help with good government by
voting.