Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1892 — Changes in The Election Law. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Changes in The Election Law.

The amendments and alleged amendments made to the Australian voting law, at the last session of the state legislature are numerous and in some casesvery radical. Some of them are no doubt meritori ous, while others, again, no doubt, justly deserve the criticism of having been made for the supposed advantage of the democratic party. The theory being that, as in 1890, the Democrats had taken, more pains to be fully posted on the new method of voting, so if radical changes went- into effect for the first time in 1892, they would again be better drilled and less apt "io lose votes through mistakes, than the Republicans.. . One of the most important changes made is in abolishing the small square at the left of the titles, “Democratic Ticket,” “Republican Ticket” &c., and instead surrounding the emblem or picture, the eagle, &c., with large square,of at least an inch and a half on each side, thus;

In voting a straight ticket the voter must hit this big square with his little stamp. But if the voter does not want to vote a straight ticket he must keep off the big square entirely, one offlthe new amendments being very difinite on that point. If he watits to vote a mixed or “scratchI ed” ticket, he must stamp every [name he wants to vote for but must not touch the big square. “If the large square is stamped a stamp elsewhere on the ballot makes it void.” If a stamp mark ds made that touches no square, it is to be treated as a distinguishing • mark” and the ballot must be thrown out Another amendment forbids the placing of any candidate on more than one ticket, as, for instance, was done in this county two years ego, when certain candidates’ names appeared on both the demo-1 cratic and the people’s ticket 1

The initials of the poll clerks on the backs of the ballots are hereafter to be placed on the upper right hand corner, instead of lower left hand corner as before. This brings the initials, directly over the democratic eagle, on the, other side of the ballot; and as the mark of the voter’s stamp almost always shows through the paper, and the ballot must be folded so as to show the initials the democratic inspectors will thus have a good chance to see whether democratic voters are putting in. straight tickets or not. Another amendment permits the use of a “paster” or sticker, but it is so complex that it would puzzle the proverbial Philadelphia lawyer to use one and get his vote m correctly.