"Of course, I know I ought to vote, and too many I may seem silly, but I just have a horror of doing the wrong thing, and I hate to go down to the polling place and begin." Writes Stay-at-Home from Illinois. "Frankly, I don't know the etiquette of voting, and the thought of it gives me the same sinking feeling I have when there are too many forks on the table at a function."
The etiquette of metropolitan voting is an unsolved mystery to me, but the rural style is quite easy to acquire. Since you are from Illinois, our system will probably be the same as yours. When you approach the polling place, you will be accosted, no doubt, by one or more volunteer bureaus of information, who will offer you marked ballots to guide you in your voting. It is good form to listen to what they have to say, if you have not studied up on the matter, and to accept their marked ballots. You are allowed to carry those ballots into the voting booth with you. If the zealous worker convinced you that he knew what he was talking about, mark your ballot like the one he gave you, but if he did not, you have the privilege of marking all the opposing candidates.
Is Quite Simple
But first you must get into the booth. Our voting is done in a little Townhall, just as yours, probably. You should sweep regally into the room, as though this was all old stuff to you, and quite a bore; meanwhile, cast your eagle eye about until you spot a table with six men grouped informally about it. There's bound to be a table, because three of them men are clerks, and they must have copy books to write in. The other three are judges, and they resemble the landed aristocracy, in that they have very little to do till evening. Part of the six will be in their shirts sleeves, part will be chewing gum, and most all of them will be tilted back in their chairs in luxurious comfort until you approach. It is a political custom.
If you have lived long in the community, you will probably know them all, but you needn't admit it, unless you feel like it. When you come close to the table, three of the manual straighten up and hold pens, poised over copy books, as though about to begin work, one will simply stare at you, one will begin to put his initials on a folded ballot and the sixth will ask you your name. Take the ballot, noticing carefully how it is folded, and then look about you for some small cubby holes with curtains at the front, known as voting booths. Step into one of them which is not already occupied, as it is against the rules of the game, as well as being somewhat crowded, for more than one to use the same booth at the same time. You will find pencil attached to strong string, and a table about chest high on which to spread out your ballot. Usually most of the ballot has to hang over the edge. No doubt you will drop several small sheets of paper to the floor, and you should pick those up and read them, for they are ballots on special questions, such as the tax amendment, and so on.
May Simplify the Work
If you want to hasten the ordeal when you open your ballot to look for the name of the party to which you belong and put a big X on the black party circle alongside. But if you want to be a real woman, you will "split the ticket." That doesn't mean that you tear off part of it, but that you leave the little party circle empty and put little Xs in all the squares you pick out as you go down the list of candidates. The practice of splitting tickets seems to be very popular with women, they seem to want to vote for a man or principal rather than a party. It is made them rather unpopular with the professional politicians, as well as with the judges and clerks, who have to count the votes. However, if you make an effort not to look guilty, when you come out of the booth, they will never know until it's too late.
When you were marked up the proper number of Xs, fold the ballot carefully just as it was given to you: then, if it is wrong, it is not your fault. Take it back to the man who gave it to you, and he will announce formally that "Amaryllis Jones has voted." The three clerks studiously write it on their list. One may spell it Emaryllis and one Amaryllis, but that's their business, and your vote is safely cast. You do not need to linger to tell them you enjoyed the party, but may walk out at once, and either visit a while with the neighbors outside or go back home and finish up the sweeping.
Can Carry It Off Airily
It's not at all difficult, and after a little practice, one gets to carry it off with quite an air. And it really disturbs the board very little, as they are tilted back comfortably again before you reach the door.
I forgot to say that candidates will sometimes have boxes of chocolates to pass to the lady voters. It is considered very shrewd to accept a little from each, as it will artfully conceal your political prejudices. But, to be serious, you ought to vote. It will only be formidable once, and even if you vote unwisely, that is better than not voting at all. You will never learn to swim if you resolve to stay away from the water till you learn how. – Hope.