HOW ELECTIONS MAY BE SIMPLIFIED
Howe, Frederic C.
HOW ELECTIONS MAY BE SIMPLIFIED The Short Ballot as a Step Forward in Democracy By FREDERIC C. HOWE GAN the tools of democracy be simplified? Can the connection of the people to the government be...
...Here is a typical official ballot for an English election...
...The English voter elects his alderman and nobody else...
...Woodrow Wilson, President of Princeton University is its president...
...Purely administrative officials would be appointed by the governor...
...These are the sort of questions which underlie the movement now agitating almost every state in the Union...
...This makes it easy for the machine...
...Even here the candidates for the legislature, for the bench and for local offices are swept into office along with the governor...
...Can the connection of the people to the government be made more direct...
...The Short Ballot would reduce the number of elective officers to a minimum...
...TUNBRIDGE...
...He is freed from confusion...
...The people know what they are doing on election day...
...Each year the ballot increases in size, the work of the voter is made more difficult...
...He is in a position to make up his mind free from confusion...
...The machinery of government is simplified...
...By this means, the voter is able to localize his agent...
...When he goes to the polls he is hopelessly confused by the task which awaits him...
...At the recent election in New York City, 192 officials were voted for...
...Under the new Boston charter the number of elective officers has been reduced to five...
...In consequence he votes the "straight ticket...
...Can government be made more responsive to public opinion...
...The candidate for the important office overshadows all others...
...It is the desire for simplicity, directness, and responsibility on the part of political agents that explains the success of the commission plan of city government, which has lately found favor even in the conservative city of Boston...
...In the same way he elects one member for Parliament...
...In state affairs the Short Ballot would eliminate all candidates save those who are responsible for a policy...
...1 (John Sutton Nettlefold, Winterbourne, Edgbaston Park Road, Edg-baston, Gentleman...
...BALLOT PAPER NETTLEFOLD...
...In the city as in the nation all of the administrative officers are appointed and are responsible for their acts to the elected representatives and in the last analysis, to the people themselves...
...Suggestions have been made to shorten the individual ballot in New York City from sixteen to seven...
...The Short Ballot organization is inspired by the same instinct...
...It is actual size...
...He cannot discriminate even if he is in a position to know the men who are running for office...
...There is only one official to be voted for...
...The problem is simplified in the country districts...
...It is this that lies back of the movement for direct legislation through the initiative and referendum, which is rapidly making its way out of Oregon into all sections of the Central West...
...The Short Ballot is a movement in the direction, not only of simplicity but of more effective control of the agencies of government by the people themselves...
...Can the burdens of political activity be reduced...
...They explain the irresistible demand for direct primaries...
...2(William Stephen Tunbridge, Rock-lands, Woodbourne Road, Edgbaston, Solicitor...
...And their agents know that they must serve their constituents, to retain their confidence...
...The Short Ballot aims at the reduction of the number of elective officials...
Vol. 1 • December 1909 • No. 51
