Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1889 — THE NEW ELECTION LAW. [ARTICLE]

THE NEW ELECTION LAW.

The next general election in this state will be held under the new law, embodying what is known as the Australian ballot system As it will introduce many new features, some of them wide departures from our present election methods, the Indianapolis Journal well says, it behooves the people to begin to familiarize themselves with its provisions. Some of them may be stated.

The new law will reduce the size and increase the number of voting precincts. At present no precinct may contain more than 350 voters; the new law makes the limit 250. This will increase the number of precincts and. election officers by about one-third. At every geners al election there shall be two bal lot boxes, one painted red for state tickets, and one painted white for county tickets. All tickets

are to be printed and furnished at the public expense, state tickets by a state board of election commissioners, consisting of the governor and two other m mbers to be appointed by him, one Republican and one Democrat. County tick ets wixl be furnished by the county board of election commissioners, consisting of the county clerk and one Republican and one Democrat to be appointed by him. State tickets will be printed on redtinted paper and county tickets on white paper. The law provides the methods of their distribution and tells what kind of distinguishing marks or devices they may havS. Every ticket printed is carefullv guarded and receipted for by the officials into whose hands they go. They are distributed in sealed packages and each precinct gets ten tickets for everv five-voters. All state tickets will be printed and distributed from Indianapolis, and county tickets in the respective counties. 1 Each state ticket will contain the names of all candidates of both parties

for state offices and eaeh county ticket the names of all candidates for county offices. The names of Republican and Democratic cand dates will be prirtedin separate rows. No ticket can be voted unless it has the initials of the poll clerk Wiitten in ink on the lower left-hand corner of the back. Each voting precinct must have a suitable room in which to hold the eh ction, embracing three separate booths or comp rtments containing a counter or writing-shelf, and in which a person may be screened from observation. These booths

must communicate directly with the room where the election board sits, and only one voter may enter a booth at one time. At every vsting precinct there shall be a chute, or passage with a ra-ling, rope or wire on each side, commencing fifty feet away from, and leading to, the rolling place. Ope challenger and one poll-book holder for each party may stand by the chute near the shailenge window, but no other person within fifty feet. No tickets are allowed to go outside of the election room. When a voter enters the room through the chute he fL st announces his namt> to the poll-clerks, who record it. He tnen receives one state and one county ticket, together with an official stamp, and goes alone into one of the sooths, where he prepares his balct. If he wishes to vote a straight Republican or straight Democra - ic ticket he will place the stamp at :he head of the lists of either party’s candida+es. If he wishes to vote a mixed ticket, he will stamp the names of the individual candidates for whom he wishes to vote. Before leaving the booth or compartment, the voter must fold his state and county ballots separately so that no part of the face of either shall be exposed, and so that he initials of the poll-elerk in ;he lower left-hand corner of the back shall be visible. He must not sh w his ballot to any person after stamping it, nor leave the room with it. Only one person shall be in a booth at the same ime, and, in no event longer than five minutes. Not more than three persons besides the election officers shall be allowed in the elecion room at any one time, and no conversation shall be permitted. Any person who is unable to prepare his ticket by reason of physical disability or inability to read may have it prepared for him by the poll clerk on stating how he wishes to vote. Any person who s'.ows his ballot to another after it has been marked forfeits his vote. If a person, by accident or mistake, defaces or spoils a ticket while preparing it, he may, on returning it to the poll clerk, receive another. The provisions for the protection, custody and final accounting for the tickets, those not voted as well as those voted, are very strict. These are the main provisions of the new law, though many of its details will require careful study by officials as welTas jy the public to insure intelligent compliance.

Slippers 10 cents per pair, up; children’s shoes 25 cents per pair, up; women’s kid shoes, silk-work d button holes, 75 cents per pair up; men’s congress sh< es $1 ner pair, up; boots $1.50 per pair up. Chicago Bargain Store. Senator Frye, of Maine, is authority for tie statement that “the Democrats of the House can prevent any change in the rules if they please.” It is certain that if the Democratic members are true to their duty they will please to defeat any Republican attempt to alter the rules. The only motive for an effort to change the rules is tt e desire to create a Republican working majority by turning out a number of Democrats who were elected and giving their seats to their defeated Republican competitors. Any Democrat who does not resist an attack on the rules will be guilty of participation in this conspiracy of the enemies of his party.