Pennsylvania Quote by Francis Fox
““Pennsylvanians cast their votes at 41 polling places, compared with 11 before the Revolution. James T. Mitchell and Henry Flanders, comps., The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1809 (Harrisburg, Pa., 1896-1915) (hereafter Statute, 9:114-23.””
About This Quote
Source Historical Document: Pennsylvania Statutes, 1896-1915
The quote compares the increase in polling places to a proliferation of great minds, suggesting that more venues can lead to diminished effectiveness.
In simple terms: More voting sites may not improve democratic quality.
Key Takeaway
Quantity of venues isn’t always beneficial.
Themes
politics
democracy
efficiency
Mood
analytical
neutral
Type
historical
policy
When to use this quote
- election planning
- policy reform
- urban development
- public administration
Key Concepts
institutional design
representation
voter turnout
Questions to Reflect On
- Does venue count affect voter engagement?
- What balance yields optimal representation?
A Different Perspective
More polling places could improve access despite the critique.
![“Too many in your state [Pennsylvania], as in this [New York], love pure democracy dearly. They seem not to consider that pure democracy, like pure rum, easily produces intoxication, and with it a thousand mad pranks and fooleries.” quote by John Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5f9/john-jay-31836_democracy_too-many-in-your-state-pennsylvania-as-i_2189878.jpg)
