Talcott v. Philbrick
Supreme Court of Connecticut
Petition to Thayer, J., under Gen. Statutes, § 58, which authorizes a judge of the Superior Court, on petition, to hear and. decide upon contested claims to city and town offices. The question in the case was whether certain ballots cast for the defendant for the office of alderman at a city election in the city of Hartford, were legal, under the act of 1889, known as the Secret Ballot Act.
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Petition to Thayer, J., under Gen. Statutes, § 58, which authorizes a judge of the Superior Court, on petition, to hear and. decide upon contested claims to city and town offices. The question in the case was whether certain ballots cast for the defendant for the office of alderman at a city election in the city of Hartford, were legal, under the act of 1889, known as the Secret Ballot Act. (Session Laws of 1889, chap. 247.*) The petition alleged “ that at the annual meeting of the city of Hartford for the election of city officers, held in said city on the 7th day of April, 1890, the…
1Opinion of the CourtCarpenter, J.
The object of the statute of 1889 is obvious ;—it is to secure an honest vote, correctly expressing public sentiment, by preventing fraud, corruption and intimidation. Fraud, by placing it in the power of every voter to obtain an official ballot from the representatives of the leading parties, who are duly sworn to a faithful performance of their duties; and in like manner an official envelope, in which to enclose his ballot before voting. This would seem to effectually preclude any opportunity for fraud or *478imposition. Corruption, by making it impossible for any one who would bribe or…
2Cited by19 opinions
- Bowers v. SmithSupreme Court of Missouri · 1892
- People Ex Rel. Nichols v. Board of County CanvassersNew York Court of Appeals · 1891
- State ex rel. Waggoner v. RussellNebraska Supreme Court · 1892
- Boyd v. MillsSupreme Court of Kansas · 1894
- Dickerman v. GelsthorpeMontana Supreme Court · 1897
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