This Day The "Bedsheet Ballot" (1964)
Jan 30, 2025
In 1964, Illinois faced a unique voting challenge with an at-large election due to redistricting issues. Voters encountered a bizarre orange ballot, likened to a bath towel, featuring an overwhelming number of candidates. The chaos of such a format led to a rise in party-line voting and questioned the fairness of local representation. The impact of name recognition also played a significant role in this election, highlighting the need for electoral reform. This peculiar chapter sheds light on the complexities of democracy and the importance of effective districting.
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The Bedsheet Ballot
- In 1964, Illinois experimented with an at-large election for state legislature.
- Every voter had to choose from 177 candidates, leading to an enormous, orange, "bedsheet ballot."
Origin of the At-Large Election
- Illinois's at-large election resulted from a dysfunctional government and a "poison pill" law.
- The law mandated at-large elections if the legislature and an independent board failed to agree on redistricting.
Voter Behavior
- Faced with an overwhelming ballot, voters defaulted to voting along party lines.
- Name recognition also played a significant role, favoring candidates with familiar names.