"In Line to Vote," photographer unknown, 1924. Larger.
Everyone agrees that elections should be fair, open, and above-board, especially here in California where citizens have long enjoyed their right to the franchise.
William Chauncey Pond came to California in 1853 as a home missionary. Part of his ministry was spent in the Sierra Nevada, which afforded him opportunity to reflect on the economic and political future of California once the Gold Rush had played out.
The transitoriness of the mines, with the probability of their being worked out, was assumed. But the future of the state, as founded on its agricultural possibilities, especially in view of adequate irrigation, brightened our eastern sky and led on towards a settled population and a substantial growth. This led to a new sense of political responsibility.
The method of voting at that time invited fraud. I went to the polls and after standing in line a good while announced my name and it was written down. Then, unless some one challenged my vote, it was deposited. This gave abundant scope for the appeal, "Vote early; vote often."
Pond published his history of "gospel pioneering" in 1921, and no doubt never imagined that almost a century later Californians are still trying to figure out the best procedures for recording votes.
below to hear radio segment.
