HOW DID A COLONIAL ELECTION WORK. IF YOU COULDN'T READ OR WRITE HOW DID U VOTE?
see below.
http://www.answers.com/topic/election
"In colonial America the election of church and public officials dates almost from the founding of the Plymouth Colony, and the paper ballot was instituted in elections to the Massachusetts governorship in 1634."
Although this is not my area of expertise, I would imagine that many of the early colonial elections occurred in a face-to-face situation, like a town hall meeting. However, I do know that colonial elections tended to have only white men as voters, so the voters may have been limited to those who could read and write.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy
"Although not described as a Democracy by the founding fathers, the United States can be seen as the first liberal democracy. [20] The United States Constitution protected rights and liberties and was adopted in 1788. Already in the colonial period before 1776 most adult white men could vote; there were still property requirements but most men owned their own farms and could pass the tests. On the American frontier, democracy became a way of life, with widespread social, economic and political equality.[10]"
I hope this helps a little. Thanks for asking.
In colonial America, the election process varied depending on the specific colony. However, if you were unable to read or write, it would have been challenging to participate in the voting process.
One possible scenario is that many early colonial elections took place in face-to-face settings, such as town hall meetings. In these situations, voters could express their preferences verbally or by raising their hands to indicate their choice.
It's important to note that during colonial times, the right to vote was generally limited to white men who owned property. This restriction could have further limited the number of eligible voters who could not read or write.
As for the specific mechanics of voting, the use of a paper ballot was introduced in elections to the Massachusetts governorship in 1634. However, this method would have required literacy skills to read and mark the ballot. It's possible that illiterate individuals relied on trusted friends or family members who could read and write to help them vote according to their preferences.
Please keep in mind that my area of expertise may not cover all the details of colonial elections, and practices may have varied among different colonies. For a more accurate and comprehensive understanding, I recommend consulting historical resources or reaching out to experts in colonial American history.