Historic Hood River
No Hanging Chads
11-6-2018
Notes
Here’s a sample ballot from the city election of December, 1912. It appears the city clerk has used it to record the final tally from the election. It’s interesting that city elections were partisan in that era. They are now non-partisan in Oregon, as are county offices.
Longshot
Surprised that a sample ballot existed back then.
Arthur
It seems odd they would have city elections in December instead of combining them with the federal elections in November. November 5, 1912 was a presidential election.
L.E.
I wish our ballot was this simple.
Where are all the initiatives?
Arthur
There were 37 initiatives on the ballot in 1912, including women’s suffrage (passed) but they all happened in November. This December election seems to be just city offices.
https://ballotpedia.org/Oregon_1912_ballot_measures
L.E.
Interesting. 37 initiatives. Wow.
I remember my husbands grandmother complaining about people not getting out to vote. She talked about when she was given the right to vote and it was very important to her.
kmb
I am left wondering what those designations in the right column mean and the different combinations. Were these the local party designations of the day? Were some of the candidates members of more than one party?
Arthur
Yes, kmb, they were party designations. Local elections were partisan in that era. Not sure when most city/ counties in Oregon became non-partisan. Multiple parties often endorsed the same candidate– still happens today, but there are fewer parties.