Evening star., 1927-11-27
CET.OJT.THE.VOTE CONTESTS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Plans for persuading the voters of
the United States to go TO the poiis
in 1928 and make the presidential elec-
tion genuine expression of pubic
oninion are now being freely discussed
bv numerous civic and economic
croups which believe that the salNh-
tion of good government in repunhc
is To be found only in active partici-
nation by every citizen In the busi'
ness of government. This discussion
is not new, but is periodical. ana eaCti
election wear finds a great deal salo
about the need to get out the Note'
while each election finds from ~ 10
so per cent of the eligible voters ap'
sent from the polls.
One new proposal has been heard
in reference to 1928. and it seems to
he worth public discussion. since no
oreanized eroup has yet undertaken 1t,
although the American Legion. which
carried on some political education
work in 1926. is giving it serious con-
sideration. The officials of the Legion
had the plan brought to their atten.
tion bv the AmericaniSm otf1cer OF
the Legion in the District of ColumblS,
which is the one place in the Unlted
States where residents have no vote
at all, but are most keenly interested
in the results of elections.
This plan calls for the promotion.
in every community in the country! OF
eet-out.the.vote contests, in which val
uable prizes would be offered to lndi-
viduals who succeed, in their nome
precincts or districts or other units or
voting territory, in persuadlng the
entire eligible voting populatlon-or
the largest percentage thereof-to go
%1Jlc Of
tions. The author of this plan has
given the writer permission to make
il public in some detail in the hope
that it may stimulate thought ami
action on the absentee voter problem
along practical lines.
Without criticizing the efforts made
by patriotic groups like the Legion,
the National Civic Federation, the
League of Women Voters and many
other organizations in previous cleo
ton years to stimulate efforts for
larger participat ton in elections. 1t Is
fair to point out that despite the very
extensive efforts thus made and the
great amount of support given to
these efforts by the press, the net re-
suit of these campaigns has not been
any extensive increase in voting.
Figures OF Recent Campaigns.
Calculations by interested workers
in 1920 indicated that only 40 per
cent of the total eligible vote was cast
in that presidential year. In 1924. de-
spite a nation wide publicity campaign
for getting out the vote. only about
81 per cent of the eligibles voted. In
off years the vote is even less COM
plete.
In 1924, despite a general increase
in population. II States polled small
er total vote than in 1920. The others
showed an increase. but in no State
was more than 70 per cent of the
total possible vote registered at the
polls.
This evidence that urging people to
vote by speeches and printed messages
is not sufficient actually to get voters
TO the polls has prompted the proposal
of personal individual canvassing. to
be stimulated by prizes and organized
as local contests. The plan suggested
is based on the work of the rank and
| file of precinct political workers, the
door-to.door canvas, bell ringing, hand
shaking. and collecting the pledges of
individuals that they will vote. Often
this must include their promise to
register prior to the elections, and to
vote at primaries as well as at gen.
eral elections. The canva seing must
also be followed up on election day,
to make sure that the pledges are not
forgotten.
To interest and enthuse citizens in
such contests does not appear to be
altogether simple, but the following
proposal indicates how it may be done:
A local committee or organiZa ton
such as an American Legion post, n
chapter of the Daughters of the Amer
| ican Revolution, or other lodge, lunch,
con club or civic group, might very
| well solicit prizes for such a contest
| from the merchants of the commu-
nifty. who would have ample oppor-
! tunity to display these prizes in their
| for the gift.
The cooperation of local newspa.
pers can very we'll be asked, and
probably granted, as the contests
would have considerable news inter.
est, and the press each year has
| gladly given up space to news ar.
| ticles and editorials for the encourage.
ment of more general voting.
A thoroughly reliable and actively
| interested set of judges would be re.
| ouired to award the prizes, as it would
| be necessary to see that each contest.
| ant operated under the rules adopted
| for the contest. and to appraise the re.
| suits in view of the actual registra ton
| of voters and the vote recorded at the
| primaries and elections.
Obviously this plan opens up many
! possible variations, and seems likely
of adoption, in one form or another,