Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1889 — THE NEW ELECTION LAW. [ARTICLE]

THE NEW ELECTION LAW.

Ystaff Should Begin to Study it Now if They Want to get to the Polls in 1890. The next general election in this state, says the Indianapolis Journal, will be held mider the new law, embodying wntfc is known as the Australian ballot system. As it will introduce many new features, some of them wide departures from out present election methods, it behooves the people to begin to familarize 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 ‘t'nfe de>w makes tihe limit 250, This will increase the number of precincts and election officers by about one-third. At every general election there shall be two ballot boxes, one painted red, for state tickets, and one painted white, for county tickets. All tickets are to be printed and furnished at public expense, state tickets by a state board of election commissioners, consisting of the Governor and two other to be appointed by him, one republican and one democrat. County tickets will be furnished by the county board of election commissioners, consisting oL the county clerk and one republican and one democrat to be appointed by him. State tickets will be printed on red-tinted 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 have. Every ticket printed is carefully guarded and receipted for by the officials into whose hands they go. They are distributed in sealed packages a;;d each precinct gets ten tickets for every five voters. All state tickets will be printed and distributed from Indianapolis, and county tickets in the respective counties. Each state ticket will contain the names of all candidates of both parties for state offices and each county ticket the names of all candidates for county offices. The names of republican and democratic candidates will be printed in separate rows. No ticket can be voted unless it has the initials of the poll clerk written in ink on the lower left hand corner of the back. Each voting precinct must have a suitable room in which to hold the election embracing three separate booths or compartments, 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 voting precinct there shall be a chute, or passage, with a railing, rope or wire on each side, commencing fifty feet away from, and leading to, the polling place. One challenger and one poll-book holder for each party may stand by the chute near the challenge window, hut no other person within fifty feet. No tickets are allowed to go outside the election room. When a voter enters the room through the chute, he first announces his name to the poll clerk who records it. He then receives one state and one county ticket, together with an official stamp, and goes alone into one of the booths, where he prepares his ballot. If he wishes to vote a straight republican ticket or a straight democratic ticket, he will place the stamp at the end of the list of either party’s candidates. 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 told his state and county ballots separately, so that no part of the face of either shall be exposed, and so that the initials of of the poll clerk in the lower left hand corner of the back shall be visible. He must not show 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 time, and, in no event, longer than five minutes. No more than three persons besides the election officers shall be allowed in the election room at any one time, and no conversation shall be permitted. Any person who is unable to prepare his ticket by reason of inability to read, may have it prepared for him by the poll clerk on stating how he wishes to vote. Any person who shows his ballot to another after it has been marked, forfeits his vote. If a person, by accident or by mistake, defaces or spoils a ticket while preparing it, he may, on leturning it to the poll clerk, leosive another. The provisions for the protection, custody sod final accounting for the tickets, tboss not voted as well as those

voted, are very strict These are the main provisions of new law, though many other of its details will require careful study by officials as well as by the public to insure intelligent compliance. 7 Some Important Resolutions. The County Teachers’ Institute adopted an extensive series of resolutions, previous to its final adjournment Below are published sueh of the resolutions as we judge to be of general interest: resolutions: Resolved: That the welfare of our state requires that our legislature take such action as will provide sufficient funds for the operation of the schools of every township, not less than six months in the year. That the basis vit wppfc?'txonment of our school revenue should be changed from the present basis to the actual number enrolled in our schools. Resolved: That we condemn the action of any trustee who enters into any agreement or combination with other trustees for the purpose of affecting the compensation or location of teachers, as detrimental to the interests of our schools; contrary to the principles of justice, and a certificate of his own incompetency to serve in any offiee of honor. That it is the duty of the teacher to give due attention to this matter in determining his action at the polls. Resolved: That the teachers of Jasper county are law-abiding and if the text book statute is enforced by the adoption of books equal to or better than those now in use the schools will be benefitted. If the books already adopted are directed to be used in the schools we will do all that we can to make their use a success. We, however, so far as we have examined the books, regard them as below the standard required by the statute. We believe that the County Board should be definite in its action respecting text books, and that its action should be published in the county papers. Resolved: That the best interests of our schools demand that the trustees should join with us in striving to obtain the best results, and to attain to that end should attend the County Institute-Bhould manifest the same interest that they demand of their teachers. Resolved: That the convenience and comfort of the Institute demands a larger and more commodious room, in which to hold its sessions.