Jackson Advocate

State Democratic Executive
Committee To Present Proposal
For Change In State Election
Law To 1952 Legislature
Would Eliminate Poll-Tax Receipt
In Second Primary Voting
Discharged Veterans Would
Get Poll-Tax Exemptions

JACKSON. Miss., : Dec. 26. (DSN) - A sub-committee of the Mississippi Democratic Executive Committee in a meeting here last week adopted a 14-point proposal for changes in the State election law to be recommended to the 1952 session of the state legislature which convenes in January.

Regarded as most significant in the proposal is recommendation for the elimination of the presentation of the poll-tax receipt in second primary voting. the extension of poll-tax exemptions to discharged veterans, and change in the rule of challenging non-resident voters.

The 14-point proposal follows:

1. Eliminate the automatic repealing provision of the soldier absentee ballot so as to make the rule permanent.

2. Provide a method by which persons who are qualified candidates for any election may withdraw prior to printing of the ballot.

3. Hold primary elections in June rather than in August, in order to give the State Supreme Court time to decide election disputes.

4. Fix the deadline for filing of affidavits required under the corrupt practices act.

5. Authorize the writing in of the name of the candidate of the electors' choice in the event of death of a candidate after printing of the ballot.

6. Repeal (except for soldiers) the absentee ballot.

7. Increase to $25,000 the amount which candidates may spend in the first primary and also in the second primary.. The total will be $50,000. Now it is $15,000 for each primary.

8. Allow the appointment of more than one set of managers for certain precincts and fix the compensation of managers, clerks and bailiffs at $5 instead of $3 as now.

9. Make it mandatory that qualification papers for any candidates must be in the hands of the committee before midnight of a set date instead of postmarked before midnight and in the mails.

10. Non-resident votes must be challenged prior to the time the person casts the ballot and not afterward.

11. Give the executive committee greater powers to pass upon the qualifications of candidates in order that non-worthy candidates might not force an election.

12. Eliminate the provisions for senatorial and flotorial candidates: . to provide that candidates for the legislature where there is more than one county in the district, shall qualify with the state executive committee; to fix fees to be paid by a candidate for party nominations at $250 for a state-wide office; $125 for a district office such as highway commissioner; $50 for county office; $20 for legislative office; and $10 for county beat offices.

13. Provide poll tax exemptions for discharged veterans, giving credit for time in service as tax paid.

14. Eliminate the necessity of presenting a poll tax receipt in the second primary when a person has voted in the first primary.

Tom J. Tubb of West Point acted as chairman of the sub-committee making recommendations.

He reported that Chairman Knox Huff, of Forest, was taken to a hospital Tuesday afternoon seriously ill and could not be present.