Museums as polling places

[L Verge]

(11-03-2018 06:34 PM)AussieMick Wrote:  

(11-03-2018 02:08 PM)L Verge Wrote:  No, but it was a polling place from 1854-1864. Since we were in the heart of Southern Maryland's Confederacy, I really wish we could hear the talk that went on in our tavern, especially during the 1860 election. Mr. Lincoln received only one vote in our entire county in that election.

Oddly, we don't know who the gentleman was who voted for him, but we do know that he resided in the southern-most region (geographically) of Prince George's County. Perhaps he did it as a joke?

Laurie, Well if it was done as joke then it was a Donkey vote.
Two reasons ...
#1 It could have been a Democrat (the Donkey Party) voting for a Republican.
#2 In Australia we have compulsory voting and some people simply fill in the ballot, in order to comply, without caring who they vote for ... we call that a Donkey vote.

( I hate compulsory voting ... but dont start me on that)

I have to ask how Australia enforces compulsory voting. What is the penalty if you don't vote?

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(11-03-2018 07:43 PM)L Verge Wrote:  

(11-03-2018 06:34 PM)AussieMick Wrote:  

(11-03-2018 02:08 PM)L Verge Wrote:  No, but it was a polling place from 1854-1864. Since we were in the heart of Southern Maryland's Confederacy, I really wish we could hear the talk that went on in our tavern, especially during the 1860 election. Mr. Lincoln received only one vote in our entire county in that election.

Oddly, we don't know who the gentleman was who voted for him, but we do know that he resided in the southern-most region (geographically) of Prince George's County. Perhaps he did it as a joke?

Laurie, Well if it was done as joke then it was a Donkey vote.
Two reasons ...
#1 It could have been a Democrat (the Donkey Party) voting for a Republican.
#2 In Australia we have compulsory voting and some people simply fill in the ballot, in order to comply, without caring who they vote for ... we call that a Donkey vote.

( I hate compulsory voting ... but dont start me on that)

I have to ask how Australia enforces compulsory voting. What is the penalty if you don't vote?

I should mention that, about a dozen years ago, Surratt House featured a fantastic 19th-century political exhibit to coincide with an election year (can't remember which one). One of our longtime members lent his fantastic collection of original memorabilia of elections throughout the 1800s and all of museum quality.

We even had one member offer to loan an original "voting house" that was still standing on his property. In some areas, these were tiny structures with a door at each end and a voting counter and ballot box in between. The voter walked in one door, did his civic duty, and then walked out the other door. We had to decline using it because we couldn't afford the expense of moving it to Surratt House, securing it while on loan and then moving it back.