TPG440671 The Naturalisation Office Day Before Election, published in \'Harper\'s Weekly\', November 7 1857 (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Citizen of undoubted respectability - "Did you happen to want a friend to swear that you\'ve been five years a resident?""; The election with which this cartoon is concerned is the New York State election that was held on November 3 1857; There were a huge number of European immigrants recently arrived in New York City at this time and in order to vote in the state election a man (for only men were allowed to vote at that time) had to be a naturalised American, which meant proving residence in America for more than five years; Corrupt candidates would arrange \'naturalisation\' in exchange for votes;); American, out of copyright.