Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, July 10, 1912, Page 11

cms a — = Ss ssssnaessssyesnususnssnnne mg, number of votes cast for any candidate or candidates of any party for any office at such primary election shall aggregate the number of votes equal to ten per cent or more of the average vote cast for state officers of that party at the last general] election in the territory within which such candidates are to be voted for, then all candidates of that party within: that territory shall be deemed to be the party nominees of such party; otherwise no candidates of that party within that territory shall be deemed nominated and in such case, such party candidates of such’ party may be nominated by petition as pro- vided for in Sec. 213 to 216 inclusive, Revised Laws 1905, and the candidates of any such party failing to receive such ten per cent of such vote shall be eligible for nomination under the terms of this provision. The term “State officers” as used in this act for the pur- pose of computing the average vote to deter- mine the ten pér cent vote as above provided shall be and is hereby defined to be the fol- lowing officers: Governor, Lieutenant Gov- ernor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer and .Attorney General. Provided further, that if less than three persons file for a non-partisan office such lesser number shall be the nom*ee or nominees, as the case may be, for such office.” Sec. 12. That Section 201 of the Revised Laws of 1905, be and the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows: “Section 201. The persons certified by such canvassing boards to be nominated, shall constitute the nominees of the several politi- cal parties or the nominees under the terms of a home rule charter, or the non-partisan nominees as the case may be, to be voted for at the next ensuing general election, and their names shall be printed upon the official ballots prepared for the ensuing election.” Sec. 13. That Section 217 of the Revised Laws of 1905, be and the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows: “Section 217. If a vacancy occurs after nominations have been made or by reason of the failure of any party to receive ten per cent of the vote as provided in sub- division (g) of Section 11 of this act it may be filled at any time before the general election by filing with the proper officer a nomination certificate in form and substance as hereinbefore provided, executed by the chairman and secretary of the proper com- mittees of the party whose voters make the original nomination, under the direction of such committee, and the chairman and secre- tary when so filing such certificate must attach thereto an affidavit to the effect that such candidate has been duly selected by said committee and that the persons signing said certificate and making such affidavit as such, are the duly authorized chairman and secretary of said committee. If there is no proper committee to fill sueh vacancy, as above provided, then in that event the person receiving thé next highest number of votes for such office at such primary election shall be the candidate for such office, and if there is no other candidate for such office and a vacancy exists by reason of this fact, the vacancy may be filled by the proper Officer placing upon the ballot the name or names of such candidates as are nominated by petition in a manner provided in Sections 213, 214, 215 and 216, Revised Laws 1905, provided that every registered voter of such party who was qualified and participated in the. primary election is eligible to sign a petition, choosing a nominee to fill said vacancy.” Sec. 14. That Section 218 of the Revised Laws of’ 1905, be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: “Section 218. If the ballots have been printed, the officer whose duty it may be to have such ballots prepared and printed, shall, if such ballots be still in his hands, attach to said ballots over the name of the candidate who. causes said vacancy, adhesive stickers, containing the name only of the candidate selected under the next previous section of this act. Should such ballots have been distributed before such vacancy occurs, then and in that event, said officer shall cause to be printed and distributed to the election judges to whom the ballots have _ been distributed, a sufficient number of adhesive stickers to correct the ballots as provided herein, and said election judges shall correct said ballots as herein provided.” Sec. 15. That Section 241 of the Revised Laws of 1905, be and the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows: “Section 241. In cities of the first, second and third classes the judges shall constitute boards of registration in their respective districts. In cities of the first class on Tues- day nine weeks preceding any general state or city election and in cities of the second and third classes seven weeks preceding any general state or city election and. fourteen days before any special election the judges shall meet at six o’clock a..m. at the place where the last election was held or in such other place as may be lawfully designated as the polling place for the district and there remain in session until nine o'clock p.m. and register all persons entitled to vot@ in such districts at the ensuing election. Such registration shall be known as the register of voters and made in duplicate. The board shall have the same right to preserve order at its meetings as jdges on election and- vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as upon election day. Nothing in this sec- tion shall be construed as amending chapter 148 of the Laws of 1907.” Sec. 16. That section 247 of the Revised Laws of 1905, be and the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows: “Section 247. In cities of the first class on Tuesday eight weeks preceding any general state or city election and on Tuesday seven weeks preceding any general or city election and in cities of the second.and third classes on Tuesday two weeks preceding any gen- eral election and on the thirteenth day pre- ceding any special election, such board shall meet at the same place as before and remain in public session from six o’clock a. m. until nine o’clock p. m.' fer the purpose of regis- tering qualified voters. It shall obtain from the clerk and use the same registers as on the first day, and observe the same forms. Sec. 17. That section 251 of the Revised Laws of 1905, be and the same. is hereby amended so as to read as follows: | “Section 251. Only the votes of qualified registered voters shall be received by the judges at any general election in a city of the first, second or third classes, except the vote of a person whose name was erased as provided for in section 250, who takes the oath and proves his identity by the oath of another as hereinafter prescribed: Provided, that in cities of the first class, only the votes of qualified voters who have registered on either of the first two registration days in said city shall be received by the judges at the primary election, but any person who has not registered but who is a qualified voter in the district wherein he resides, shall be entitled to vete at such primary election if he registers on said primary election day and,complies with the following provisions, and not otherwise, namely: He shall at the time he offers his ballot deliver to the judges his affidavit in which he shall state that he is a resident of the election district in which he offers to vote, naming the same and ‘that he is entitled to vote therein; that he has resided in said election district thirty days next preceding said election and shall give street and number of his residence; that he is a citizen of the United States; that he is twenty-one years of age; that he has resided in the state six months immediately preced- ing said primary election, which said affidavit shall be substantiated by the affidavit of two freeholders, electors in such district, corrob- orating all the material statements therein. No compensation shall be received for taking or certifying such affidavit. No one free- holder shall, be competent to make corrob- orating affidavits for more than five voters. All such affidavits shall be sworn to before some officer authorized by the laws of this state to administer oaths. Sec. 18. Each political party shall provide a state central committee, a congressional committee for each congressional district, a county committee for each county, and a committee for each city in the manner fol- lowing: (a) The nominees for state offices, stute legislature, senators and representatives in congress and United States senators and state senators whose term of office extend beyond the first Monday in January next en- suing, of each political party, shall meet on the second Thursday after said primary elec- tion at the state capitol at twelve o’clock noon, at which time they shall ekect a state c¢ntral committee, herein provided for, of such size as they shall at said time determine and shall also elect a congressional commit- tee for each congressional district, of such size as they shall at said time determine, the members of each congressional: committee to be chosen from among the electors of the several congressional districts respectively. (b) The nominees for state legislature and the several county officers and such senators and county officers whose terms of office ex- tend beyond the first Monday in January next ensuing of each political party, shall meet on the first Tuesday after said primary election at the court house in their respective coun- ties, at twelve o’clock noon, at which time they shall elect a county committee of such size as they shall, at said time determine, and shall provide for the selection of such precinct and other committees within their respective counties as they shall determine to be necessary. (c) The nominees for city offices of each political party in each city shall meet at the city hall in their. respective cities, on the first Monday after said primary election at twelve o’clock noon at which time they shall elect a city committee of such size as they shall, at said time, determine and such pre- cinct committees for the respective cities as they shall determine to be necessary. (d) Each committee and its officers shall have the powers which have been customarily used by such committees. and by the officers thereof, in so far as is consistent with this act. The various committees and their officers now in existence, shall exercise the powers and duties herein prescribed until their suc- cessors are chosen in accordance with this act. Sec. 19. Laws of 1905, as amended by chapter 214 of the Laws of: 1905, be amended by adding thereto the following provisions: -In counties having-a population .of 200,000 That section 316 of the Revised” or more, and in all cities having a population of 50,000 or more, whether o Dieting under home rule charters or otherw se, the ballots in each precinct shal’, as soon as practicable after the canvass is completed, and in the presence of all the judges, be strung and fastened together into a Single package hy passing a substantial twine string through and around all the ballots cast in such pre- cinct, tying the énds of the twine and sealing the same with wax over the knots, with a seal provided by the county auditor or the city clerk, as the case may be. After the ballots have been so strung, fastened and sealed, they shall be replaced in the ballot boxes in the presence of all the judges, and each ballot box shall be locked and shal! then be sealed by pasting a firm paper across the lid and body thereof, in such manner that the box cannot be opened without breaking the seal and each judge shall write his name upon said paper, so that such signature shall cross the opening between the lid and the body of the box. Such sealing shall be done before the board separates or adiourns, but not until by a cahvass of the ballots in all the boxes, it has been ascertained that all of the ballots to be sealed in a box have been placed therein. In counties having a population of 200,000 or more, and in all cities having a population of 50,000 or more. whether operating under home rule charters or otherwise, the ballot boxes, after the ballots have been ,placed thercin and the boxes have been properly sealed, shall be returned to the office of che county auditor or city clerk. as the case may be, by at least two of the election judges in person, and shall thereafter be stored in such manner as to admit at all times of actual, visual inspection of the exterior of the said boxes. Any candidate for office at such election, upon demand made upon the custodian of the ballots shall be entitled, either by himself, or his duly authorized agent, or agents, not exceeding two at any one time, to maintain continuous, visual watch over said boxes at all hours of the day and night until the expiration of the time for instituting contests; and in case of the instituting of contest or contests, either party to such contest, upon demand upon the custodian of the said ballots and upon notice to the opposing party to such contest, shall be entitled by himself, or his duly authorized agent or agents, not exceeding two at any one time, to maintain an actual, visual watch over such ballot boxes at all hours of the day and night. In event of such demand, either by candidate or party to a contest, the cus- todian of such ballots shall be authorized to appoint some suitable person as watchman over such ballot boxes during such hours as he shall deem necessary, in order to prevent leaving the same in the sole custody of such candidate or contestant or his agent or agents. Sec. 20. Where voting machines shall be provided in the manner permitted by law, such voting machines may be used at all primary and general elections insofar as the use of the same is applicable, and not inconsistent with this act. If the mechanism of such machines will not permit the voter to record his vote in the manner provided in this act, said machines may be used in the manner now provided by law so far as is applicable, and. as. te offices. to which such voting machines will not apply separate paper ballots conforming with the law shall be used. All votes on voting machines shall be re- corded and counted and the results thereof ascertained, canvassed and returned as pro- vided by this act, Sec. 21. That all acts or parts of acts in- consistent with the provisions of this act, be and the same are hereby repealed, except so much of chapter 267 of the General Laws of 1905 and the acts amendatory thereof as applies to the purchase of voting machines and the use of the same at general elections, except chapter 388 of the General Laws for the year 1911, providing for the nomination of candidates and the selection of a candidate for senator in Congress from this state by direct vote of the people, which said act shall remain in full force and effect except that the provisions in this act for the prepar- ation of the ballot providing for first and second choice votes and the provisions in this act for the casting, counting and canvassing of said first and second choice votes and for determining nominees, shall apply to the per- sons and candidates mentioned in said chapter 388 of the General Laws for the year 1911. Sec: 22. This act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage. Approved June 19, 1912. x‘ ——-~ CHAPTER 3-—-S. F. NO. 5. AN ACT relating to corrupt practices at pri- maries and elections, and candidates to be voted for therein and providing for punish- ments for violations thereof. *Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota: Section 1. No candidate for the nomina- tion or election to any elective office in this state coming within the provisions of this act shall directly or indirectly pay, expend or contribute any money or other valuable thing, or promise to do so, except for the fol- lowing purposes, which are hereby declared to be legal expenses. -{1) For the capdidates’ necessary personal