6 ASSESSED POLLS, ETC. [Jan.'92. 



such apparatus as may be presented to them, as the adoption 



of such apparatus will require amendments to the election 



laws. 



Ballot Law Commissioners. 



The officers authorized to consider and determine objec- 

 tions relating to nominations of candidates for state officers 

 should be authorized to send for persons and papers, and to 

 administer oaths to witnesses who appear before them. Pro- 

 vision should be made for the compensation of the ballot-law 

 commissioners appointed by the governor. 



Keturns of Voters by Assessors. 

 Article 32 of the amendments to the constitution, ratified 

 at the last state election, nullifies the provision of law rela- 

 tive to the payment of a tax as a prerequisite to the placing 

 or retention of the names of persons on the voting lists. It 

 is suggested, therefore, that among other necessary amend- 

 ments, the assessors be required to ascertain, return and pub- 

 lish street lists of names of legal voters instead of assessed 

 polls, and that the number of such legal voters be returned 

 to and published by the secretary of the Commonwealth. 



Codification of Election Laws. 

 In addition to the several amendmeiits and additions to the 

 election laws which will necessarily be made, these laws 

 should be re-arranged and consolidated, including the enact- 

 ments of the present year. At the present time, there are 

 many provisions of these laws which are confusing and mis- 

 leading, and it is impossible to understand them without a 

 careful study. For instance, the ballot act, though quoted 

 and referred to as chapter 413, acts of 1889, is chapter 436, 

 acts of 1888, as amended by chapter 413, acts of 1889 ; and 

 certain provisions of chapter 436, acts of 1890, are in amend- 

 ment of the ballot act, but it is not so stated. In the general 

 election act, chapter 423, acts of 1890, there are several 

 provisions which arc in a[)parent conllict with the ballot act, 

 and others which have been amended by implication. 



Very respectfully, 



WILLIAM M. OLIN, 



Secretary of the Commonwealth. 



