THE BALLOT SYSTEM AS WORKED IN FRANCE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2775, 5 January 1878, Page 4

THE BALLOT SYSTEM AS WORKED IN FRANCE.

Paths, 26th October.—Tho elections on, the 14th passed over everywhere with the utmost calm. The pvocoedings at the ballotidg places were more than orderly, and the general aspect of Paris, so different from that seen iv an English town on an election day, must have nstoniahed those English visitors who had crossed the Channel in expectation, of witnessing a disturbance. I visited during tho day and evening almost every quarter of the city. On all sides the same calm prevailed, and no one could have supposed, wlien regarding the unconcerned aspect of tlie vast crowds out of doors, that such a memorable day for France was passing over. Nothing can be simpler than tho modus operandi at a French election. Three, and in somo instances, four voting places are appointed for each ward. One of theso is invariably the viairic, and it •was lo the viairies that I conlmed my visit on Sunday week. Iv each a similar scene was taking place. At the entrance to the courtyard louts stood at either side, distributing; to- the voters small slips of white paper, bneack of which was printed the name of one of the rival candidates. The -lazy or illiterate elector who Las not come provided with a written bulletin takes one of these slips. He then makes his way to a room in the interior of the buiiding, ■where, afc a long table covered with green bake, sits the -moire, or his deputy, assisted by four assessors. The ballot box is placed in the middle of this table, opposite the presiding officer, and as each voter comes up he presents to one of the assessors a form printed on a small sheet of note paper, containing his' name, address, &c, simply a proof of identity. These forms had been issued for three or four days previously, and as each is handed in the name is ticked off on the register, so that no cases of doubling can occur. Moreover, as,an additional precaution, the corner of each sheet of paper is torn off when presented. Having thus established his right to vote (a proceeding which does _not occupy ten seconds), the elector gives ' the presiding officer the folded slip on which is written or printed the same of the candidate for whom ho desires to record his suffrage, and this is dropped into the ballot box before his eyes. He then retires. No sergent-de-ville is allowed to be present in the votingroom, but one or two are in the passages adjoining, and a few hang about in front of the building. When six o'clock strikes the counting of rotes at once begins. The assessors remain with the presiding officer, and the public has a right to enter and watch the proceedings, so that there is riot the slightest possibility of fraud or tampering with the bulletins, which are passed for registration through three or four hands. The whole proceeding is characterised by the regularity that is proverbial in administrative arrangements in this country.—From The Melbourne Age Paris letter.