Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
These ballot boxes were donated to the museum by the Eddy County Courthouse and are now housed in the Brantford Depot waiting room. They measure 15-by-8 inches and 19-by-14 inches.
In 1892, North Dakota participated in its very first presidential election. It was a big year in terms of elections. Six states had joined the union, bringing the total of established states up to 44. Hot topics of the election included farming issues and sound currency.
Former President Grover Cleveland was running for re-election against incumbent President Benjamin Harrison who was also running for re-election. Cleveland defeated Harrison, thus becoming the only person in U.S. history to be elected to a second, non-consecutive presidential term.
North Dakotans cast 48.5% of the popular vote to Harrison. You'd be wrong to think the remaining percentage went to Cleveland. Instead North Dakotans rallied behind Populist nominees, James B. Weaver of Iowa and his running mate James G. Field of Virginia.
The 1892 election was also one of the first to issue and implement government-issued ballots. Prior to 1888, there was no such thing. Most voters used ballots that were handed out by political parties on brightly colored paper. These 'party tickets' made it difficult to vote across party lines.
The idea of government-issued ballots was pioneered in Australia in 1858. These ballots were distributed on site, one per voter. They were identical and offered voter privacy, but best of all, candidates were listed together on one ballot.
