Oh, look at the pretties!

Kaylee ,'Shindig'


Natter 76: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Foaminess  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


dcp - Oct 13, 2020 9:48:31 am PDT #27594 of 30019
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.

Everyone comes out at their own pace.

That brings to mind something that came up during discussion of ballot procedures with my family not long ago.

My great-great-grandfather Zachariah S. Hastings (1838 - 1925) wrote his autobiography and sent copies to his sons in 1911. In it, he describes voting in 1860:

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page 27

Chapter Eight - First vote. Oldest brother. War. Return to Indiana. In Tophet again. First Baptism. Clarksburg meeting.

About this time I was, [for] the first time privileged to exercise my right as a voter.

The question was whether the state of Missouri should secede from the union. Brother and I voted in the negative.

Then during the same year, 1860, November the 6th, we were privileged to vote for a President of the United States. The candidates were A. Lincoln, S. A. Douglas, J. B. Breckenridge and John Bell. Brother voted for Bell for he thought Bell was the only one that would save the union. I voted for Douglas because I thought his election would save from the impending war. The manner of voting was then quite different from what it is now. The judges of election sat in the school house by a lower open window and the voters would file up to the window on the outside. For instance when I appeared at the window to vote, a judge from within asked, "What is your name?" I replied, Z. S. Hastings. "For whom do you vote," asked the judge. I vote for Stephen A. Douglas," was my reply. The judge then said in a loud voice, "Z. S. Hastings votes for Stephen A. Douglas." The clerk recorded it. That was all. The next president I voted for was Abraham Lincoln. And, as it is said, of some Democrats who are still voting for Thomas Jefferson, I am still voting for Abraham Lincoln, that is to say, these Democrats are still voting for some of the principles that were taught by Thomas Jefferson, and I am still voting for some of the principles held by Abraham Lincoln.

==========

Wikipedia tells me, "In the U.S., voting by secret ballot was universal by 1892...."

[link]

I thought it was interesting, anyway.


Topic!Cindy - Oct 13, 2020 9:53:26 am PDT #27595 of 30019
What is even happening?

That's so cool, dcp.


-t - Oct 13, 2020 10:01:56 am PDT #27596 of 30019
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Wow, that's fascinating


Tom Scola - Oct 13, 2020 10:12:09 am PDT #27597 of 30019
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.

Missouri was the only state that Stephen A Douglas won.


Theodosia - Oct 13, 2020 10:27:44 am PDT #27598 of 30019
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"

So very cool, indeed.

I found out that early voting starts in Somerville this Saturday, one long block away from me, so that's where I'm going.


-t - Oct 13, 2020 10:54:01 am PDT #27599 of 30019
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Nice, Theo!


Topic!Cindy - Oct 13, 2020 11:59:12 am PDT #27600 of 30019
What is even happening?

Yes, Massachusetts early voting is from Saturday, October 17, 2020 through Friday, October 30th.

I requested a mail-in ballot for the presidential election, when I voted early in-person for the MA state primary. I've already filled out my ballot. I'm going to drop it off in person during the first week of early voting.

Our town's hours are kind of erratic, and that first day, early voting doesn't start until 2:00pm, so whether I vote on that day or wait until Sunday or Monday, depends on the lines.


Jesse - Oct 13, 2020 12:03:41 pm PDT #27601 of 30019
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

I'm about to go put my ballot in a legit drop box!


Topic!Cindy - Oct 13, 2020 12:08:49 pm PDT #27602 of 30019
What is even happening?

That's my fail safe, Jesse.

I don't know why, but I feel better handing it to a person than putting it in the drop box (we only have one, and it is at town hall, so I know it is legit).

Basically, everything is making me nervous, and not in my "I have an anxiety disorder way," just in a "look at all this" way.


-t - Oct 13, 2020 12:11:36 pm PDT #27603 of 30019
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Yeah, I'm glad my polling place is City Hall. I haven't actually checked, but I assume there's a drop box there