Here is another installment in our ongoing series Stumping and Eating the role of food and beverage in political campaigns. During the era of Jacksonian Democracy (1820s-1830s) party affiliated political machines or organizations worked to increased popular participation in elections. They mobilized to reduce residency requirements for voting, eliminated the practice of voice voting, and increased access to voting places. On election day they also worked to insure voter turnout and choices at the polls. For example, party operatives worked their voting districts giving away things like turkeys, pastries, and bottles of brandy, whisky, and rum to those who voted their candidate. As a result the poor looked forward to election day, if they could register and vote.
