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Machine Voting and the Bardwell Votometer.
New York: Bardwell Votometer Co., [c. 1900]. 12mo (18.5 x 9.7 cm), illustrated blue folding wrappers. 27, [1] pp., b&w photographic illus. A rare brochure promoting the Bardwell Votometer voting machine as a development that ensures a fair vote and an honest count—and safeguards democracy. The Voltometer was among the first voting machines used in America. This brochure spells out many reasons why voting by machine is the most advanced form of voting: it is cheaper, simple, quicker, and absolutely secret; the result of an election is determinable immediately upon the closing of the polls; and machine voting prevents a defective vote as well as a falsification of its count. The arguments are also put forth that the votometer is a natural development in the progress of election methods via technological innovation, and that machine voting also responds to the increased population in the U.S.—where it has become more difficult to ensure the expression of every individual’s will. Machine voting is here seen as combating disenfranchisement because it is the surest way to guarantee a full vote; in other words, to guarantee democracy. Includes the verdicts of committees that have examined this new form of voting and the Bardwell Votometer in particular. Endorsements are provided from leading authorities on mechanics and politics: city clerks, mayors, wardens, election officers, as well as from various newspapers across the country. Many of these blurbs express how machine voting eclipses the present ballot system, which is riddled with deficiencies. The first use of the Bardwell Votometer is detailed, which took place at a municipal election in Northampton, Mass., where it replaced the so-called Australian secret ballot. Photographic illustrations capture voting-related scenes inside a Northampton hall, including an image of the city clerk who was the first to use the machine to vote—the whole process taking him a mere 5 seconds. The votometer was apparently “a complete success” and a full report of its performance is offered here, in addition to commissioner Hogan’s observations on the machine—who was called upon by Mayor Hart of Boston and whose favorable testimony was published in the Springfield Union. Also detailed are how the machine works and how one might vote for persons not appearing on the ballot. It is stated that in just 20 years the machine will be in universal use in the U.S. No copies recorded in OCLC. CONDITION: Very good, minimal wear.
Item #4927
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