SIMPLIFY THE PRIMARY BALLOT
Simplify the Primary Ballot THE RIGHT to vote is the most prized possession of American men and women. This is true in spite of difficulties, complications and disappointments. It is never given up...
...It is never given up willingly even though voting at times is sadly neglected...
...They can be made to serve the purposes of parties and yet permit the greatest independence in voting...
...Wisconsin, Michigan and other northern states have in recent years become for state purposes practically one party states...
...j Henry Thomas, Rep...
...Under the title of the office can be placed the names of all the candidates of all parties with the party designation or principle following each name...
...Such a primary ballot would read:' FOR U. S. SENATOR j Vote for one | John Doe, Democrat ) j Richard Roe, Rep...
...For the primary, the ballot can be all on one sheet...
...The needed changes are very simple...
...More than a dozen years ago Wisconsin adopted much the same plan ail that here proposed for its cities...
...The proposed form of ballot being also practically the same for the election and the primary will therefore be an aid to the voter and avoid confusion and mistakes...
...To avoid the unsatisfactory situation resulting from a minority nomination these southern states have adopted various devices, especially a second or run-off primary between the two highest candidates...
...If no candidate received such majority the names of only the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes would go on the election ballot which would be in substantially the following form: Election Ballot FOR U. S. SENATOR Vote for one [ John Doe, Democrat j Richard Roe, Rep...
...If a candidate receives a majority of all the votes cast for all the parties he can be declared elected and this office will not appear on the election ballot...
...This arrangement has also become familiar to voters through the primary ballot...
...At the same time these can be made to insure a majority election in every case...
...HERMAN L. EKERN...
...There can be no more imperative duty before lawmakers than that of perfecting the ballot, protecting it against corruption, and making it expressive of the real will of the voters...
...J } William Smith, Soc...
...They can be changed to greatly reduce the expense of elections both to the candidates and the public...
...As Massachusetts, Minnesota and other states where the original Australian ballot has been preserved, placing the names of all the candidates together under the title of the office, the voter has long been educated to make a cross for each individual candidate...
...By limiting to two the names on the election ballot the result will necessarily be a majority election...
...In brief, the plan proposed greatly simplifies the ballot, absolutely insures majority elections!, will increase the vote at both primaries and elections,' eliminates manipulaton of nominations, reduces public expenses in printing and clerical work, reduces the expensee of candidates, and will secure real decisions by the majority on questions of principle...
...If no candidate receives a majority, the names of the two receiving the highest number of primary votes can be placed on the election ballot under the title of the office the same as on the primary ballot...
...The primary and the election ballots can be greatly simplified...
...This has long been the case in many southern states where a nomination is equivalent to an election...
...The ballot for the primary and the election can be made practically the same...
...j | If one candidate received a majority of all the votes cast for all the candidates for the office he would thereby be elected...
Vol. 19 • January 1909 • No. 2
