For the first fifty years in this country, voting was by voice. A man would swear he was who he said he was and that he hadn’t already voted, then he’d announce his vote to the room. No privacy there. Turnout at these early elections was as high as 85%, perhaps because the candidates provided liquor. George Washington used to bring beer and a good time was had by all.
Ahh, the good old days, when rich white men could get together to vote, get rip-roaring drunk, and run the country without any pesky interference from the womenfolk or the colored folk or troublesome immigrants or heathen natives.
Then political parties began actually printing ballots, but with a twist: they’d put only their candidates’ names on them. They’d then send them to eligible men. These ballots were often on different colored paper so everyone knew who everyone was voting for based on the color of ballot he put in the box. Again, not much privacy.
Finally in 1888 they began adopting what was called the “Australian ballot.” The radical new idea? Include candidates of both parties on the same ballot. Now a guy could step into a booth to mark the ballot, thus voting without the entire room knowing whom he voted for.
Since then our elections have only grown saner, and more private, and fairer. And now, of course, those rich white men have to share at least some of the power with the rest of us, since women and blacks and immigrants and Native Americans can actually vote.
One Response
Very interesting history lesson. And now we have so many different ballots because of all of the different districts. Great facts.