Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1890 — HOW WE WILL VOTE! [ARTICLE]

HOW WE WILL VOTE!

The above is an illustration of a State Ballot, prepared in accordance with the provisions of the new election law. The names used for the purpose of this illustration are those which were on the democratic, republican and prohibition tickets at the general election in 1888. In case any other party, combination or faction nominates a ticket or a part of a ticket, their ticket or tickets must also be placed on the ballot, to the right of the prohibition ticket, and in such order as the Board of Election Commissioners shall decide. The- pictures at the top of the tickets represent the devices which are to be printed at ..the head of each ticket, on the genuine ballots, each party to seclect its own de-vi-.-e. The pictures winch are used in the above sample ticket, though selected nearly at random, aro not wholly devoid of significance. The object of these pictured devices at the head of the tickets is of course, to enable voters who can not read English, to recognize the ticket of their party. This ballot will be printed by the State Board of Election. Commissioners on red tinted paper. The names of the candidates for all the other offices of a local nature, such as district, county, etc., will be printed in the same manner and form on a Local Ballot by the County Board of Election Commissioners on white paper. :** The, ' T •<£ L'ecti'om Comboissioaeys in comp- -sect of the Onve.r nor and on ft uemuerat named by the ( hair man o| tie- .lemuonitie state central committee, and one republican named, by the chahrmnn ■of -Wk© ..republican state central commit loe. Tiie County Board of Election Commissioners is'composed of the county clerk and one- democrat named by the ehhirman of the democratic county central committee, and one republican named by the chairman of the republican county central committee. The election board will be com - posed of one inspector and two judge,,, the same as under the old law. One of the judges and one of the clerks for each precinct will be named by the chairman of

the county democratic and repub - lican central committees respectively. The township trustees, as under the old law, will, by virtue of their office, be* inspectors of elections in the precincts in which they reside. The board of county commissioners will, at their June term next preceding any election, appoint the inspectors for each precinct in which no township trustee resides. Each precinct will contain as nearly as practicable two hundred electors, and no precinct shall contain more than two hundred and fifty electors. Each precinct will be provided with a chute, or passage-way with a railing, rope or wire, on each side, commencing fifty feet away from anu leading-to the pollingplace, passing the window where the challengers are stationed and leading thence to the entrance of the room in which the election isheld. One challenger and one poll-book holder, appointed and designated by each party organization shall be entitled to stand at the side of the chute near the “challenge window.” No other person (except the election sherifl) shall be or remain within fifty feet of the polling place except for the purpose of offering his vote. Two “election sheriffs” will be present at each polling place to see that the provisions -of- the election law are observed, and to keep the peace, etc. One of these election sheriffs will be a democrat and the other a republican, „and they will be selected by the repective chairmen of the countv central committee of those two parties. In the election room there will also be two ballot-boxes —a red one and a white one. Iu the election room there will also be three booths or stalls erected on the end or on the side of the election room. There will be room enough for on© man to stand in, conveniently, iu these booths or stalls and in each booth oi stall there will be a table or n desk or a smooth board or surface ou which the ballots can be conveniently laid for the purpose of stamping them. The

booties will be so constructed as to prevent any fine from seeing how any voter stamps his ballot except himself. The first thing at the top of the ticket is the “device;” represented in the above sample by the sick rooeteroT democracy, the triumphant eagle and banner of republicanism, and by the suggestive drug-store sign for the prohibitionists. Next com ee; the “title.” of the ticket, such as “Democratic- Ticket,” “Republican Ticket.” etc., etc., before which is plftced a square. Under the title of the ticket comes the names of; the candidates on each ticket, each name being preceded by a square. The Poll clerks, before giving out any ballots are required to write their initials on the lower, left hand corner of the back of the ballot. This must be done in their ordinary hand writing without any distinguishing marks. Placing any mark on a ballot by which it may afterwards be singled out, is a state-prison offense and the election board must not count any ballot that is found to be mutilated, defaced or marked so that it can be identified* The poll clerks must explain to each voter requesting it, the manner of voting. If necessary the election board can call an interpreter. If the yoter declares that on account of physical disability* or inability to read English, he cannot stamp his ballot, the poll clerks must do so for him in the presence of the voter and of each other and, on request, must read over the names of the candidates as marked. Any one making a a false declaration as to his physical disability or his inability to read English is subject to fine and disfranchisement. Any Poll clerk who deceives a voter in any way in marking his ticket or who at any time discloses or communicates to any person how an elector voted, is guilty of a states prison offense. If the voter accidentally or by mistake spoils, mutilates or defaces his ballot, the Poll clerk must give him another, and have him destroy the first in the presence of the election board.