Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Ballot |
Date |
November 5, 1895 |
Title |
Official Ballot for Election District No. 5, Middletown |
Description |
Ballot used in an election held in Middletown, Staten Island. It is printed in black on a large sheet of paper. The ballot is divided into eight columns. Each of the first seven columns is headed by an emblem of a political party or organization, and contains that party's ticket, or list of candidates and offices, with spaces provided to mark votes for individual candidates or a party's full ticket. The eighth column, at right, lists the offices, with space to write in candidates whose names do not otherwise appear. The parties included are: Republican, Democratic, Democratic Party Reform Organization, Prohibition, Socialist Labor, People's, and Independent Citizens' Organization. There are X marks next to the names of some candidates. The reverse side of the ballot has a printed inscription: "OFFICIAL BALLOT FOR / ELECTION DISTRICT / NO. 5, MIDDLETOWN, / NOVEMBER 5, 1895. / John B Elsworth / County Clerk." There is also a handwritten inscription: "The whole number of Ballots / voted like this was one Hundred and sixty six (166)". Candidates include John Palmer and Horatio C. King for Secretary of State; James A. Roberts and John B. Judson for Comptroller; Addison B. Colvin and DeWitt Clinton Dow for Treasurer; Theodore E. Hancock and Norton Chase for Attorney General; Nathaniel Marsh for Senator; and Isaac A. Silvie and Alva D. Decker for Coroner. (Keywords: New York) |
Ownership and History |
The new "blanket ballot" was introduced to New York State in 1895. For the first time, each voter at a polling place would receive an identical ballot containing the name of every candidate running for office, organized by party. Voters could identify the party of their choice by the name and symbol printed at the top of each column. They could mark the circle at the top to vote for all of a party’s candidates, or make marks beside the names of individual candidates. |
Earliest Date |
1895 |
Latest Date |
1895 |
Subjects |
Voting Political elections Political organizations Ballots |
Lexicon Sub-category |
Documentary Artifact |
Associated People |
Marsh, Nathaniel, Jr. Silvie, Isaac A. Decker, Alva D. Ellsworth, John H. |
Catalog Number |
X19.0276 |
Support Acknowledgment |
Online Collections Database record made possible by the Staten Island Historical Society, August 2020. |
Legal Status |
Items represented here are from the collections of the Staten Island Historical Society. Materials reproduced for personal non-commercial use must credit the Staten Island Historical Society. Commercial licensing is available. |