FIVE IDAHO PRECINCTS CAST NO BALLOTS IN NATIONAL ELECTION
Spokane, Washington (JFK+50) On November 9, 1924, The Sunday Star reports that five precincts in Idaho County* "cast no votes" in last Tuesday's national election.
No votes for Coolidge, no votes for Davis and no votes for La Follette. In fact, no votes period.
Why the failure of any voter to exercise his or her civic duty in these five precincts? Lack of interest, lack of patriotism, laziness, etc?
None of the above. According to County Auditor Henry Pelcher, reporting from Grangeville**, the 25 registered voters of the five Idaho County precincts in question did not vote because "the polls hadn't been opened at all."
The Associated Press front page story does not explain the reason for the failure to open the polls in the 5 precincts of Idaho County.
JFK+50 NOTE
Idaho's 4 electoral votes went to President Calvin Coolidge in the Election of 1924. The Republican candidate won 47% of the state's popular vote, with Progressive Robert La Follette winning 36.5% & Democrat John W. Davis finishing third with 16%.
JFK+50 COMMENT
Just a thought related by Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC. He said there are 7 million voters in California & 7 million more in New York State who do not vote because of the Electoral College system. They know their vote won't impact the outcome of their state's electoral vote.
I assume the argument could be applied to the many other states where the electoral vote is virtually certain to go to one party or the other. For example, in my home "red" state of Tennessee a vote for the Democrat could be construed as a "wasted" vote.
O'Donnell says further that the United States is the only democracy in the world that has an electoral college system. It was established by the Founding Fathers because of their concern that there should be a buffer between "the people" and the more educated elite.
*Idaho County, established in 1862, is the largest county in size in the state. Its county seat is Grangeville, incorporated in 1904. Part of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation is located in the county.
**Grangeville, largest city & county seat of Idaho County, is located in north central Idaho & is surrounded by national forests, rivers & mountains. Its population in 2010 was 3141.
SOURCE
"5 Idaho Precincts Cast No Votes in National Election," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., November 9, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
