Voting Machines

We are not advertising any particular voting machine, biit we are interested in correct elections, and for that reason we are in favor of their adoption. From a circular lately received we quote a number of excellent reasons for their i use. It is the aim of every good citizen to perfect our voting system so that every voter shall vote as las conscience dicj tates and have that vote counted as he intend-il to have it counted. It is bevond question that no blanket ballot has ever been made that could not be made to serve as a receipt for a purchased vote by placing marks upon it that would surely identify it, butj which the law cannot class as "distinguising marks." It is also true that at everv election there are in every precinct in the state cases where the voter fails to mark his ballot so that the inspeciors can count it. There were several thousand of tliem in this state this ye;ir, and it is claimed that there were'over one hundred and sixty thousand (K5U,000)in the state of New York. The vuting machine prevenís the possibilily of bribery. 9r ïntimidation, f r the rèason that it is impossible to separate the vote of any voter fruin the other votes, the record being kept on register wheels. The voter only adds one to the tutal of the candidates lor whom he votes, and his vote cannot be separated or distinguished from the oihers any easier ihau a drop of water (ui be separated from the other drops with whicli it has been mixed. There is no way in which the voter eau prove to any one how he voted.and bribers are not" likely to pay for votes which they can have no assurance that they have received. The voting machine s absolutelyaud unquestionably accurate, and checks against itself for errors. The bl.mket ballot is the best paper ballot vet suggested. but while nearly every state in ihe Union uses it.no two have" the same system of inarkiug it Changes are made at the sessions of each legislature with a view of simpli fying the manner of marking it, so that the votéis will not make mistakes. There are sure to be ballots voted at every election precinct at every eleetion, which the voter failed to mark. others tliat are marked so as to vote for the first name only which the voter intended to be counted for the whole ticket, and others where the voter has tried to "split" his ticket and failed to mark it pioperly. The voter is wholly or partially disfranchised and the candidate deprived of votes he is rightfully emitled to. As a result of this 'it is not unusual, whenever an eiection is lÉclose," for the defealed candidate to contest the election, in the hope that a re-count of the detective votes will chantre the result in his favor. Witta the voting machine there are no defective or imperfect votes. It keeps a correct record of the whole number of votes, regardless of the ïminber of persons who enter the machine but do not vote It keeps a correct record of all the candidates for all the otlices. and of all the votes wherein no candidate was votedfor. If the voter through carelessness, isnorance or awkwardness fnils to make a selection as to any ottic? to be voted for, the machine wil not work. The faot that he has nol voed is apparent to all bystanders and he can be allowed to correct his ticket. He may select añy candidate. or h may select no candidate. but to vote for no candidat" he must nut "no choice" in the voting space in the machine. If he does this it is certain that he did not fail to vote as he intended. At the close of the election. every vote being counted and aecounted for, there can be no contests. ]f a cnndidate isdefeatedby one vote, the decisión is final. lt is eisier to learn to work the machine than to learn to l'old a ballot, and any man can vote twice in the same time it would take to fold a b illot. An illiterate, or a person with defective eyesight, can vote intelligently without assistance. Itn wlio have not been aWe to select their liallots for years, vote without dilliculty and without ashistance.