the judge and one inspector. Minority representation on the board is thus secured in general, although it may happen that both inspectors may be chosen from one political party. These officers are sworn to conduct the elections secretly and fairly, and may be severely punished if this is not done.

The pay of election officers is three dollars and fifty cents for each election, without regard to time.

Cannot be Arrested on Trivial Charges.-Election officers are privileged from arrest (146) upon days of election, and while engaged in making up and transmitting returns, except upon warrant of a court of record or judge thereof for an election fraud, for felony, or for wanton breach of the peace.

The Ballot. The constitution requires that all elections shall be by ballot (136) or by such other method as may be prescribed by law; provided that secrecy in voting be preserved (Amendment No. 3). The essential features of a good method of balloting are that the voter shall have every opportunity to select from all the candidates, free from solicitation, coercion, or bribery, the candidates of his choice; and that he may do this in private, and deposit his ballot without interference.

These advantages are secured in Pennsylvania by the use of the "Baker Ballot," a modification of the Australian ballot. The Ballot Reform Act of 1893 provides that all ballots cast in elections for public officers within the Commonwealth shall be only those prescribed by law and printed and distributed at public expense. The secretary of the Commonwealth prepares all forms and blanks, and furnishes copies to the county commissioners. The commissioners procure further copies at the cost of the county, and furnish them to the election officers or other persons by whom they

are to be used, in such quantities as may be necessary. The names of all candidates for any office specified on the ballot are printed on one sheet of white paper which must not be less than six inches long and four inches wide. All the ballots used at the same voting place at any election must be alike.

How the Names are Arranged. The names of candidates for all offices, except President and Vice President, are arranged under the title of the office for which they are candidates in an order fixed by law. At the right of the name of each candidate the name of the party nominating him is printed, and at the right of the party name there is a square of sufficient size to allow the convenient insertion of a cross mark. At the end of the list of candidates there are also blank spaces wherein the voter may write the names of other persons for whom he may desire to vote. Whenever a constitutional amendment or other question is submitted to the vote of the people, it is printed after the list of candidates, and followed by the words "yes" and "no." On the extreme left of the ballot, and separated from the rest by at least one half inch, a list of the names of all the political parties represented on the ballot is printed, and a square for the insertion of a cross mark is placed at the right of each party name. At the head of each ballot the following instructions are printed: "To vote a straight party ticket, mark a cross (X) in the square opposite the name of the party of your choice, in the first column." "A cross mark in the square opposite the name of any candidate indicates a vote for that candidate." Other instructions how to mark,* and such words as "mark one,' " "mark two," and the like, may be

*"The voter may insert in the blank space at the bottom of each group the name of any person whose name is not printed on this ballot, for whom he desires to vote."

Am. Cit.-10

printed upon the ballots. The intention of the law is to give each voter a clear opportunity to designate his choice of candidates by a cross mark (X) in a square of sufficient size at the right of the name of each candidate. The courts have no jurisdiction to direct what instructions the county commissioners shall or shall not give to voters as to marking ballots.

When Presidential Electors are to be chosen, the names are arranged in party groups, and at the head of each group of candidates are placed the appropriate party name and the surnames of the candidates of such party for President and Vice President. At the right of the space containing the surnames of the candidates for President and Vice President, and their party name or political appellation, the usual square for the cross mark is placed, and also at the right of the name of each candidate for Presidential Elector.

Every party, which at the election next preceding had two per cent. of the highest number of votes cast for any State office, may have its candidates on the ticket. Independent candidates may also have their names placed upon it by presenting nomination papers signed by one half of one per cent. of the voters of the State for any State office; and, in case of any other office, by two per cent. of the highest number of votes cast for any office in the county, township, or other district for which the independent nomination is made.

Provision for Mistakes. Each voter is provided with a ballot already folded. If he inadvertently spoil the ballot, he may obtain another by returning the spoiled one. Any ballots thus returned are immediately canceled; and at the closing of the polls are placed in an envelope, sealed, and sent to the proper office as required by law in the case of the ballots cast.

Specimen Ballots.-Copies of the form of the ballot pro

vided are printed upon tinted paper, but without the facsimile indorsements seen upon the regular ballots. From these and from the printed instructions furnished, voters may learn how to mark their ballots.*

Officers and Watchers.-In order that the voter may be free from all solicitation, coercion, or bribery, the election laws clearly specify the places which voters, officers, and watchers shall occupy in the voting room.

Within the voting room, but outside the guard rail, are the police officers, constables, and deputy constables required by law to be at the polls. Each party or group of citizens having candidates up for election has the right to have three watchers appointed for each district. Only one such watcher for each party is allowed in the voting room at the same time, and then only outside the inclosed space. He must be provided with a certificate from the county commissioners, and is required to show it when requested to do so. No person when within the voting room is allowed to electioneer or solicit votes; nor can any written or printed matter for that purpose be posted up within the voting room. Not more than ten voters, besides the officers and watchers, are allowed in the room at any one time during the voting period.

Within the guard rail are the judge of election and the two inspectors who constitute the election board; also the clerks of election appointed by the inspectors (146).

Manner of Voting.-Any person desiring to vote gives his name and residence to one of the election officers in charge of the ballots, who at once announces the name in a loud and distinct tone of voice. The inspector or clerk in charge of the ballot check list looks for the name, and, if it is found upon

* These specimen ballots may be made useful aids to the teacher in the classroom in explaining the procedure in elections.

the list, he repeats the name and the voter is admitted within the guard rail unless his right to vote is challenged.

As soon as the voter is admitted within the guard rail, the election officer in charge of the ballots detaches a ballot from the stub, folds it so that only the words printed on the back are visible, and hands it to the voter. As soon as the ballot is thus given to the voter, the letter "B" is marked against his name on the margin of the ballot check list. The voter retires at once to one of the voting shelves or booths, draws the curtain or shuts the door, unfolds the ballot and without unnecessary delay shows his choice of candidates by marking. If he wishes to vote a straight ticket, he makes a cross (X) in the appropriate square opposite the name of the party of his choice in the straight party column on the left of the ballot, and such cross mark is equivalent to a vote for every candidate of the party so marked. If he desires to divide his vote among candidates of two or more parties, he must mark in the appropriate square opposite the name of each candidate for whom he may desire to vote. He may insert in the blank spaces provided therefor any name not already on the ballot. In case of a question submitted to the vote of the people, he places a cross (X) against the answer he desires to give. A cross mark in the straight party column counts as a vote for each Presidential Elector nominated by that party, but if the voter desires to divide his votes among candidates from different groups, he must make a cross mark to the right of the name of each Elector for whom he wishes to vote. Before leaving the voting shelf, he folds the ballot without displaying the markings thereon, in the same way it was folded when received by him, and keeping the same so folded, himself deposits it in the ballot box without undue delay, and immediately thereafter retires from the inclosed space. The