Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-04
Streamlining Urged
For D. c. Elections
Steps Proposed
To Avert Delay
On Vote Count

Lie OlSLrlCCS elecLlO1 system
should be streamlined in several
ways before the next election in
1860, the Board of Elections has
recommended
Reporting on the first election,
held last year, the board warned
that the long delay in counting
the votes would probably be re-
Ipeated unless Congress changes
the election law
The two principal changes
would allow slate voting for dele
gates to the national conven-
tons and reporting of these
votes before counting of votes
for other Offices is completed.
Last year II days were re-
quired to finish the city-wide
count. Even then, the precinct
by-precinct count was not COM
Ipleted. With the proposed
changes. the board reported, the
most important count should be
finished in IL hours or less after
the polls close.
Many on Ballots
In last years election, the first
in more than IS years in the Dis
trict. more than $4,000 persons
voted. On the Republican ballot,
they had to choose among As can
didates for 80 positions. On the
Democratic ballot, there were IS
candidates for 81 positions and
two party questions to be de-
cided. The positions were dele
gates and alternates to party
conventions.
AS a result. about Its million
separate votes had to be counted
after the election.
The boards report. signed by
Newell w. Ellison, chairman. said
shortcomings in the counting
procedure resulted from "inade-
quate funds. lack of experience,
limited personnel and. above all,
lack of time"
Changes Recommended
| Some of these handicaps will
be lessened in the next election.
the report said. but these further
changes should be made:
! l. Since the election for all
practical purposes operated as a
presidential preference election
for the Democratic Party, and
might well have operated in the
same way for the Republican
Party if there had been any
serious controversy as the party's
presidential candidate" slate
voting for delegates should be
adopted. Each slate would have
the opportunity. though not the
. obligation" to declare its presi-
dental preference. Voters could
then simply make a single mark
for one slate. 2
2-Local party committee mem.
bers should continue to be
elected at large. rather than by
wards. and individually, rather
than by slate. But lit would Of
course simplify matters If the
parties decided to have fewer
committeeman elected in each
election"
3. Where there are unccn-
tested nominations. voters should
not have to mark their ballots
for them and the votes should
not have to be counted.
4. Votes for national commit
iteemen and committeeWomen
and for convention delegates
should be counted and reported
first, since these "are the votes
which are most Noteworthy and
significant from an overall ma
tional viewpoint"
Back Registration System
The board said the present
system of requiring voters to reg
lister by party should be con-
ltinued.
Some District voters had COM
planned that they should be all
lowed to register as independents.
But the board noted that in cases
where "open" registration is al
lowed. there is nothing to pre-
vent a member of one party.
whose candidate is sure to be
elected in the primary even with
out his vote. from deserving his
party and voting for the weakest
candidate in the opposing party"
The board said it "sees no COM
lpelling reason why the District
Of Columbia should get itself into
that position"
Voting Machines Considered
The report said that the ques-
ton Of using voting machines
should be kept open and under
review. But it said that use of
the machines would cost q great
deal more money than was APP
propriated by Congress for the
first election and would limit
the fiexibility Of the ballots.
The board also recommended
that Congress appropriate funds
to provide for the maintenance
of election machinery between
elections. At the least, 1t said,
there should be enough to keep
a full-time records clerk and to
provide for occasional board
meetings.
II its recommended changes
in the election law are not made
by Congress, q much larger sum
than the $4,000 appropriated
for the. first election will have
to be requested for 1860.
Al nlnl