Talk:Vote early and vote often

History

The quote in the article is excellent and is likely the first use of the phrase. There is no official citation or reference that attributes the phrase either to Humphreys or Capone but it is widely accepted as a Capone quote but organised crime historians alternately attribute the quote to his underling, Humphreys.

As such I described this version of history as an urban legend (as far away from fact as possible while still acknowledging commonplace acceptance as 'fact').

Please feel free to suggest alternate descriptors for this portion of the article.

Stalwart111 (talk) 00:08, 12 November 2009 (UTC).

British first?

If the Dana quote is the first use being referred to, then to say it was first used in Britain, as it does in the intro, is deceptive. The author was an American writing to a Brit, and while his words may have been published in The Times, it still reflects an entirely American usage. If, however, some other historical usage is being referred to, then that should be mentioned in the History section of the article. Agricolae (talk) 21:56, 26 February 2010 (UTC)

Agreed - have changed it slightly to reflect the comment above. Thanks for your input.

Stalwart111 (talk) 01:40, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

FYI,

"Faxon, the inimitable local of the Buffalo Republic, has got up a rally to the voters on his own account. Here it is: VOTERS! Only a few hours intervene before you will be called upon to exercise your rights as freemen, and at the ballot box state your preferences for rulers and officers. - BE PREPARED! DON'T WEAR YOUR BEST CLOTHES! Patriotism doesn't require the sacrifice of your other clothes for the sake of the Union. - ROLL UP YOUR TROWSERS AND GO IN. VOTE EARLY!!! VOTE FREQUENTLY!!! VOTE OFTEN!!! KEEP ON VOTING!!! When you get well known at one Ward, go to another, but vote manfully, and for whom you like, and frequently - we insist, frequently. - DON'T VOTE FOR GENERAL JACKSON! For he is dead. - RALLY! RALLY!! RALLY!!! TO THE POLLS!, . . . " (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, 2 Nov. 1858, p. 2.

"VOTE EARLY - VOTE OFTEN," was the exhortation of a former Reporter of the Gazette to his friends, when running for a City office. But a local reporter of one of the Buffalo papers "improves the occasion" of an election to rally the patriots in the following style:-" [it then repeats the same text as in the previous] Trenton State Gazette, 1 Dec. 1858, p. 3.

"The election last night, it was easily perceived, was a matter pre-arranged at the headquarters. The democratic motto of 'vote early and vote often' was carried out to the letter by the 'unterrified,' whose patriotism was frequently stirred up bu sundry free portions of whiskey, furnished in order for the occasion." Tammany Hall Primaries, New York Herald, 7 Sep. 1859, p. 1.

"In a certain county in our State, the late election was very close, and in order to carry it for the Democracy, the aid of about one hundred, some say a hundred and twenty, votes of the 'vote early and vote often' class, were called in, or rather bought in, to secure the desired result." An Election Incident, Columbus (Ga.) Daily Enquirer, 14 Oct. 1859, p. 2.

"But advantage is to be taken, it is said, of this erroneous notion to poll a large number of illegal votes to-day, as the votes of sailors. Vessels, with men in the garb of sailors, are to drop round, from point to point, in the two rivers, with the injunction 'to vote early and vote often.' Look out for them!" Look out for Sailors!, New York Herald, 6 Nov. 1860, p. 4

"The undersigned, the inventor of the phrase, 'Vote early and vote often', offers himself as a candidate for the office of Mayor of New Orleans. He is qualified to discharge the duties of the post, and his claims rest upon long and faithful services int he ranks of the Know-Nothings, Thugs, and the Unlicensed Generally." The Mayoralty - A Card, Daily Delta, 31 May 1862, p. 1.

Here we have the phrase being used earlier, and across the whole country at the time Dana wrote to England. While NOR limits its use, it might still inform how the documented material is summarized. Agricolae (talk) 03:27, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

New section

Added a paragraph to the "Vote often" part, noting that the statement sometimes may indicate legitimate activities, although this is rarely the intent.

Also moved a portion discussing the Republican interest in voter fraud from the "Vote often" section to the end of the "history" Section, since it is a historical event. I feel this makes the article flow more smoothly, but minor re-writes may help with this.

It is suggested that data regarding the Republican party's efforts, and responses by the Democratic party would make the article more complete, but might also lead to a lot of unnecessary political bickering. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.100.220.21 (talk) 05:17, 5 October 2012 (UTC)

Sounds good, but we probably need a source for that - otherwise it would be considered original research. Have hidden it, rather than removed it, so you can re-instate it once you have a source. Cheers, Stalwart111 (talk) 05:48, 5 October 2012 (UTC).