The Poll Books of Wicomico County (Md.) offer a brief look into the voter registration process for the residents of Wicomico County during the election season in the mid to late 1880s. These poll books of qualified and registered voters from the 8th election district in 1885 and the 11th district in 1888. The books provide a look into the political scene in Maryland in the late 1880s, when only men were allowed to register to vote.

Voting history can be explored back all the way to the colonial times, but it was not until the 1870s that many states chose to start registering their qualified voters. Voter registration began with state officials going door to door collecting names and addresses of the residents qualified, and would take these notes down in a poll book that would later be filed and become a matter of public record. Very limited residents could register in the 1800s since voting was reserved for the white wealthy land-owning individuals. In 1856, it became law that a white man did not have to own land to vote, in 1870 African American men were given the right, women’s suffrage followed in 1920 and four years later in 1924 Native Americans were given the right to vote. Voter registration was an attempt to deter fraud and to try to avoid conflicts between disenfranchised voters and election officials at the polls. While voting registration had its good intentions, many times fraud became an issue.  In some cases registers would try to control what names made the voter rolls while others made registering very restrictive, voters found it difficult to keep track of when and where to registrar. These issues are just a few that dissuaded many from using their right to vote. States eventually turned to having a central, unaffiliated statewide authority to oversee the election process which included registration of those qualified.

The two poll books in this collection were found hidden in the knee-wall of the attic at 1502 Old Ocean City Road, Salisbury, Md. The names registered were collected and filed by officers of Registration, Peter J.B. Hobbs for the 8th election district in 1885, and James F. Marine for the 11th election district in 1888. Once filed, scribers for the Justice of Peace of the State of Maryland certified the poll books. William H. Warren certified the 1885 poll book while John M. Dashiell certified the 1888 poll book.

Citations:

The History Channel, https://www.history.com/news/voter-registration-elections-president-midterms

The Independent Voter Network, https://ivn.us/2014/09/08/brief-history-voter-registration-united-states/

The National Endowment for the Humanities, https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2016/fall/feature/back-when-everyone-knew-how-you-voted

This collection of  two handwritten poll books features Wicomico County residents that were qualified and registered voters of Nutters 8th election district in 1885, and of Sharptown’ 11th election district in 1888.  Featured throughout each poll book are the surnames of each resident, their Christian name, and address of residency. As well as a statement and seal in the back of the books of certification by the officer of registration and a scriber for the Justice of Peace of the State of Maryland.