Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1899 — The Voting Machine. [ARTICLE]

The Voting Machine.

The great number of rejected ballots at every election, and the possibility that there may be error or fraud in the count, says the Indianapolis News, emphasize the importance of the adoption of the voting machine. It states that the present law authorizing the use of machines is sufficient, and the hundreds of voters who are practically disfranchised every year by having their ballots rejected because of some defect in marking renders the adoption of machine voting almost imperative, The ignorant man could make no mark that would nullify his vote. The “smart aleck” could make none that would do the same. The News might have added that the {element of absolute secrecy was another great reason in favor of the voting machine. Every voter who uses the machine has his act (recorded and counted in such a manner that it is impossible for any one but him self to know how he voted. There is no chance of changing the result in count. The count is made as the vote is cast, and all the election board can do is to unlock the machine and copy the figures. Twenty minutes after the polls close the result may be known. The expensive all night tally to the monotonous call of the Inspector, and the weary and anxious waiting by the public, would be things of the past.□ Voting would be more rapid, and precincts could be envoting machines would save money enough in two or three elections to pay for themselves. They are bound to come into universal use sooner or later, and the sooner the better