REGISTRATION.
In all cities where registration of the voters is required, men and
women register on the same day in the ward or precinct in which they
live.
For the purpose of registration the polls open from 6 o'clock a. m. to
9 o'clock p. m.
There are four election officers who have a book in which are
registered the names of all the legal voters in their precinct. Two of
these officers are called judges; one is a sheriff and the other is a
clerk.
A person desiring to register enters the voting place and announces
his or her intention to register. The judge takes the name, residence,
party affiliation and citizenship, and may also inquire as to any
other matter that would affect his or her right to vote at an
election.
If found to be qualified, that is 21 years of age and a resident of
the state for one year, a resident of the county for six months, and a
resident of the precinct for sixty days, they may register unless in a
class prohibited by law from exercising the right to vote.
The clerk then writes the name and address in the registration book
entering also color and political affiliation. When this is done the
registration is completed, and the elector is qualified to exercise
the right of suffrage in all subsequent elections, special elections
and primary elections for one year. The officers of the election give
him or her a certificate of registration signed by all four officers
of the registration, and if they lose this certificate they cannot
vote at the regular election unless they get a duplicate certificate
from the county clerk, which costs 50 cents.
In the different class cities there are some differences as to the
method and time of registering, but in Kentucky the general
registration is usually on the first Tuesday of October, in all cities
and towns of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth classes. The
hours for registration are from six o'clock a. m. to nine o'clock p.
m.
Special registrations are held thereafter as follows: One special
registration may be held by order of the city authorities, which will
be conducted exactly as the first registration above referred to, and
during the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next preceding the general
election day those persons who were absent or sick, or unable to
attend and register on the regular registration days, may appear
before the county court clerk at his office in the court house, and
register, to have the same effect as if the registration had taken
place in the manner above referred to, also on the day before the
election and on election day, public officers of the state, and the
United States government, traveling salesmen and certain ministers of
religion may apply before the county court clerk in the court house
and be registered if they will make oath that they were not present in
their city or town during any of the previous registration days.
Persons that have become eligible to vote at the general primary
election, which occurs on the first Saturday in August may register
two weeks before the election in the county court clerk's office as
above described, provided such persons were not in the city on any of
the previous regular registration days, or who were not then qualified
to register and may vote in the primary election in the same manner as
other qualified electors.
The primary election is conducted in the same manner as any other
election.
When you register the clerk gives you a certificate of registration,
which you keep to show the election officers when you go to vote, that
you have registered.
Persons living in the country and small towns do not have to register.
Name of voter __________________ Consecutive number _____________
Residence __________________
UNITED STATES
[Illustration: Rooster] [Illustration: Log cabin]
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/ \ / \
| | | |
\ / \ /
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DEMOCRATIC PARTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
For Presidential Electors For Presidential Electors
+--+ +--+
_________________________ | | _________________________ | |
+--+ +--+
+--+ +--+
_________________________ | | _________________________ | |
+--+ +--+
For Vice-Presidential Electors For Vice-Presidential Electors
+--+ +--+
_________________________ | | _________________________ | |
+--+ +--+
+--+ +--+
_________________________ | | _________________________ | |
+--+ +--+
The names of all candidates are arranged in columns, under the party
device to which they belong. A voter by putting a cross mark in the
circle under the rooster votes for all the Democratic nominees of his
party. In the circle under the log cabin votes for the Republican
nominees of his party.
This does not require a knowledge to even read, only to be able to
distinguish between the pictures of a rooster and a log cabin.
NOMINATIONS--PRIMARIES.
Candidates in the United States are usually nominated either in a
party primary or a nominating convention.
Primaries are conducted like elections. The name of the party running
for an office is put on the ballot of his party with the names of
others who have filed similar petitions. On the day set for the
primary the voters go to the polls and cast their vote as at a general
election. The candidate who receives the largest number of votes is
the nominee of the party for that office.
Primaries cost more than conventions--they are like elections--you
have to advertise extensively and meet the voters. In a few months the
election follows and you practically go over the same.
Only the voters who can vote in the party primary are those who
registered for the previous election as members of that party.
Certificates and petitions of nomination must be filed with the
Secretary of State not more than seventy-five days and not less than
forty-five days, before the day fixed by law for the election of the
persons in nomination, also certificates and petitions are directed to
be filed with the clerk of the county court not more than seventy-five
and not less than forty-five days before the election.
The primary elections are conducted in the same manner as any other
election.
The two methods of making nominations are by a caucus or convention
system, and the primary election system.
The qualifications for a voter at a primary are the same as election.
On the first Saturday in August each year from 6 o'clock a. m. to 4
o'clock p. m. there shall be held at the regular polling places in
each election precinct a primary election for the nomination of
candidates for office by political parties, to be voted for at the
next November election. You do not register to vote in the primary,
and a citizen not of age at the time of the primary, but will be
twenty-one before the November election can vote in the primary.
Primaries are conducted similar to elections--about same laws and
regulations.
ELECTIONS.
After all the political parties have nominated their candidates then
the struggle for election begins.
The period of a few months between the nominations and elections is
spent by each party in trying to get votes for its candidate.
Every voter must be twenty-one years old, a resident of the state for
one year, of the county six months, and of the precinct sixty days.
On election day the voter goes to the polling place and appears before
the election officers, who will probably be the same ones who presided
at the registration. You give your name and residence, and if you live
in a city where registration is required you must produce your
registration certificate and one of the judges may consult the
registration book to see if you have registered. If found to be
registered, the clerk will write your name and address upon the stub
of the ballot book and endorse his own name on the back of the ballot,
and remove the ballot from the book leaving the stub (called the
primary stub) in the book.
The voter will go into a voting booth with the ballot folded, then
unfold the ballot, take the stencil, press it on the ink pad and if
you desire to vote a straight party ticket place the stencil mark in
the circle immediately underneath the device of the party whose
candidates you desire to vote for. If you desire to vote for
candidates irrespective of any party affiliation you will place the
stencil mark in the small square immediately following the name of
each candidate for whom you desire to vote.
When the ballot is thus completed you lay the stencil aside, fold the
ballot in exactly the same manner as when you received it from the
clerk and then return it to the judge of the election, who removes the
secondary stub from the ballot and deposits the ballot itself in the
ballot box. If any voter spoils or defaces a ballot by mistake so that
it cannot be used he may return it, and get another, and the fact
noted by the clerk by writing the word "spoiled" on the stub and
spoiled ballot.
No person except the election officers shall remain within fifty feet
of the polls, except when voting.
It shall be the duty of the sheriff in each county before an election
to secure in each precinct of the county a suitable room in which to
hold the election, and have sufficient booths in which electors shall
mark their ballots, screened from observation.
Our laws concerning elections are more stringent in the past few
years. Every precaution is taken to insure honesty of elections.
No officer of election shall do any electioneering on election day.
In all elections in Kentucky the voting shall be by ballot.
The ballot boxes are opened and inspected before voting begins to see
that they are empty.
Electioneering is forbidden within one hundred feet of the polls.
Twice as many official ballots are provided for every polling place as
there are registered voters in the district.
If a person is illiterate he is allowed assistance in marking his
ballot.
An inspector may challenge a person's vote, but if they swear they are
eligible their vote is recorded and marked challenged.
A person cannot vote who is not naturalized for at least ninety days
before election. Also a person convicted of bribery or an infamous
crime, a deserter from the army or navy, and one who bets on that
election cannot vote.
The Governor of the State may restore one to citizenship so that they
can vote.
In registration polls are opened from 6 a. m. to 9 p. m., but in
election polls are opened from 6 a. m. to 4 p. m.
When the polls are closed the ballots are counted by the election
officers and announced and placed in ballot box, which is locked by
officers, who then take the ballot box, poll books, certificates,
etc., to the county clerk who unlocks the box in the presence of the
election officers to see if the packages containing the ballots are
properly sealed, and if so, the county clerk issues his receipt for
the box and ballots--one to the judge, and one to the sheriff.
The county clerk within a certain time sends the ballots to a
canvassing board which examines them and makes an official
announcement of the number of votes cast for each candidate, and gives
them a certificate of their election. The successful candidates are
notified and later installed into office.
AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION.
Amendments to the Constitution are handled in the same way as an
election. The ballot contains the amendment proposed with "Yes" or
"No" printed at the side. The party voting crosses out one of these
words, puts the ballot in the blank envelope and returns it as in an
election.
VOTING BY MAIL.
Voting by mail is often a great convenience.
The world is becoming more democratic and the right to vote for
representation is now arranged so that all eligible citizens of the
United States, twenty-one and over, may have a part in governing his
or her country.
If a voter is out of the state or county and holds his residence in
the same place as when he voted last--or calls home--he or she can
vote by mail. He must first register, which is also done by mail.
A printed ballot with return envelope is sent to him. The ballot is
marked by placing a cross opposite the name of the candidate voted
for, then put in a blank envelope, sealed and enclosed in an envelope
addressed to the secretary or clerk of the county or chairman of the
tellers.
This envelope must be signed by the one voting. The blank envelope
containing the ballot is opened and the ballot deposited in the ballot
box.
The one voting must take an oath before a notary public that he or she
is eligible.
ELECTORS FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.
When the voters go to the polls on election day to vote for President
and Vice President every four years on the first Tuesday after the
first Monday in November they really cast their ballots for the
electors who were nominated at the state convention. The names of the
state electors of each party are printed on the ballots under the
party name. The ones receiving the most votes are elected, and are
morally bound to vote for the candidate of the party that elected
them.
The campaign continues until the election on the first Tuesday after
the first Monday in November. The electors elected in November meet at
their state capital in January and vote for President and Vice
President. The result of this vote is dispatched at once to the
President of the Senate at Washington, D. C. The electors of the
different states meet at Washington on the morning of the second
Monday in January after their election, and give their vote at or
after twelve o'clock according to law.
On the second Wednesday in February succeeding the meeting of the
electors, the Senate and House of Representatives meet in the Hall of
Representatives at 1 o'clock p. m. with the President of the Senate
presiding.
Two tellers are appointed in each House to whom shall be handed, as
they are opened by the President of the Senate, all the certificates
and papers purporting to be certificates of the ---- electoral voters,
which certificates and papers shall be opened, presented and acted
upon in alphabetical order of the states; said tellers having then
read the same in the presence and hearing of the two Houses, shall
make a list of the voters as they shall appear from the said
certificates, and the votes having been ascertained and counted,
according to law; the result of the same shall be delivered to the
President of the Senate, who shall announce the result of the vote,
which announcement shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the
persons elected President and Vice President of the United States, and
together with the list of voters be entered on the journals of the two
Houses.
If no one receives a majority of all the electoral votes the
Constitution provides that the House of Representatives shall choose a
President and the Senate a Vice President. (Article XII, National
Constitution.)
The President and Vice President are inaugurated on March 4th
succeeding the election.
They take the oath of office on a platform on the east front of the
Capitol. The President delivers an address outlining his policies,
then returns to the White House.