Evening star., 1959-11-27
SinoIe-Shot Voters

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There is a high degree Of irony in
the vigorous drive now being waged by
both Democratic and Republican leaders
of the District to place presidential
preference" question on the ballot for
the city's election of convention dele
gates and local political officials next
May 8.
We do not say this in any sense OF
disagreement, for their goal is wholly
desirable. Even though residents Of the
Capital once again will be denied the
right to cast direct votes for President
and Vice President, they would welcome
the opportunity, we feel certain, to ex-
press a preference among the candi-
dates for party nominations-eSp especially
in view of the wide-open struggle which
is shaping up for next summer.
How this might be brought about is
the question with which the District
Election Board now is wrestling. Two
possible courses of action are open to
them.
The path urged by the chairmen Of
the two District Central Committees Is
that the board decide adminiStratively
to add preference question to the bal
lot One member of the three-man
Election Board believes that authority
exists to make this administrative deci-
sion. The two other members, including
Chairman Joseph Fairbanks, feel that
the legislative history of the 1855 Dis
trict election law indicates a rejection
by Congress of presidential preference
voting here. The second course which
the board might pursue, therefore, Is
legislative amendment to remove these
doubts.
The irony Of the situation, to which
we referred earlier, is that local Demo-
cratic and Republican leaders last Feb
ruary refused to support an Election
Board move to seek the amendatory
legislation. Whether there would be
time for congressional action imme-
diately after Congress returns, and still
leave sufficient time for the election
preparations, is questionable. There
would be at least limited opposition
among local politicians. And the fact
that four Democratic members of the
United States Senate are in the ring
actively as presidential candidates might
generate varying degrees Of reaction
from that quarter.
The Election Board, nevertheless,
should not throw in the sponge without
an effort We venture no guess as to
the boards administrative authority.
But we urge that it give the strongest
consideration to the legal arguments
presented at this weeks hearing in its
behalf. If, having done so, board
majority still feels that legislation is
essential, the election officials ought to
investigate the legislative possibility
very thoroughly before discarding it.
Four years ago, after the Districts
first election since 1874, the Election
Board noted that the practical effect of
that election was to show a clear-cut
preference as between the various Dem
ocratic candidates for President. Votes
were cast only for delegates, but sample
ballots showing the delegate candidates
Affiliations were used so effectively that
the least popular pro-Stevenson dele
gate received more votes than the most
popular pro-Kefauver delegate. The
Election Board, consequently, proposed
a number of justif1able changes-in-
cluding some form of presidential pref
erence-to give as much meaning as
possible to the only occasion which vote
less citizens of the District have to go
to the polls.