The American Voter:

We love to vote for our favorite politicians and the Democratic resounding victory over the Republicans last November was an historic event. As a poll worker, I got a very close-up view of how the system works.
When the first election was held in colonial America, Jamestown officials declared that “every man and manservant of above 16 years of age” must pay taxes and was also to vote (No mention of women or maidservants). This differed from the British law which only gave the vote to “those who owned property that produced income of 40 shillings or more a year.” In Jamestown, Virginia, where skilled craftsmen were needed, property ownership was not required.
But apparently not enough of Jamestown was voting, so in 1646 the assembly decided to fine anyone who did not vote. The fine: 100 pounds of tobacco (servants were excluded).
In New England, on the other hand, property ownership was generally required to vote. In rural areas, 50 acres was enough to get you a ballot. The other colonies soon followed suit. By the time of the Revolution, all 13 colonies had a property requirement. This excluded a lot of the population, especially in urban areas. In rural Pennsylvania in the early 1700s only 8% qualified to vote. In Philadelphia, “the cradle of democracy” it was only 2%. So the democratic process was not really very democratic when our constitution was written.
By the 19th century, voting was much easier, although not for everyone. Blacks had to wait until 1870 and the passage of the 15th Amendment. Women waited even longer. In 1872, the suffragette Susan B. Anthony was arrested and brought to trial in Rochester, New York, for attempting to vote for Ulysses S. Grant in the presidential election. She was convicted and fined $100 (She never paid it). At the same time, Sojourner Truth (a former slave) appeared at a polling booth in Grand Rapids, Michigan, demanding a ballot; she was turned away. Women had to wait another fifty years before the 19th amendment was ratified in 1920 and they could vote.
So lets all think back to out country’s early days on our way to the voting booth next Tuesday. We can all vote now if we are over 18. No one will ask for the deed to your house, proof of your gender, or your race or religion. You do have to supply your address and sign your name on the voting roster, but that’s it. Step up to the booth and exercise your constitutional right.
This will be the first time that I will be working as a poll worker and I am looking forward to the experience. The polls at the East Highlands Fire Station will open at 7:00 am and we will welcome voters until 8:00 pm. No electioneering or campaigning within 100 feet or you are likely to be fined 100 pounds of tobacco.
(Kate Kelly’s history of American elections, Election Day. Facts on File, 1992 (324.973) was the principal source of the information in this column.)