For sale is an original SAMPLE ELECTION BALLOT for the November 6, 1923 election in Onondaga County, New York. The pamphlet from the Board of Elections for Onondaga County. The document provides voting instructions and lists the candidates running for office. Republican candidates are indicated by an Eagle symbol and Democratic candidates are indicated by a star symbol which is helpful if the voter is illiterate. Curiously a couple of the candidates are marked as being members of both parties. There were also a number of candidates from the “Socialist” party. Karl Marx revolutionized and popularized the ideas of Socialism. Therefore, he is called as the father of modern socialism.
In my opinion, the most interesting think about the ballot are the office titles which include “Superintendent of the Poor”, “Overseer of the Poor”, “Coroner”, and “Constable”. The offices related to government services for the poor had no idea that in just a few years the country would find itself in the great depression which began in August 1929. The ballot when completely unfolded measures 16 inches by 14 inches. A great historical collectible.
