Voting, or "taking the poll" as it was called, was conducted in the
court chambers, or, in warm weather, in the courthouse yard, with the
sheriff presiding at a long table. On either side of the sheriff were
justices of the court, and at the ends of the table were the
candidates and their tally clerks.

The sheriff opened the election by reading the governor's writ and
proclaiming the polls open. If there was no contest or a clearly
one-sided election, the sheriff might take the vote "on view"--that
is, by a show of hands of those assembled at the courthouse.
Generally, however, a poll of the individual voters was taken. As the
polling went on, each freeholder came before the sheriff when his name
was called and was asked by the sheriff how he voted. As he answered,
the tally clerk for the candidate receiving the vote enrolled it and
the candidate, in his turn, generally acknowledged the vote with a bow
and expression of appreciation. At the close of the polling a
comparison of the tally sheets showed the winner.

This method of voting enhanced the excitement of a close election,
and, since elections frequently were held on court days when many
people came to the courthouse on other business, activity outside the
courthouse sometimes was spirited. Wagers were offered and taken,
arguments broke out and fights sometimes followed.[68]

Those attending the elections usually were in good spirits, for they
were aided by the custom of the candidates to provide cider, rum
punch, ginger cakes, and, generally, a barbecued bullock or pigs for
picnic-style refreshment of the voters waiting at the courthouse.[69]
The candidates and their friends also kept open house for voters
traveling to the courthouse on election day, offering bed and
breakfast to as many as came. On election night, the winning
candidates customarily provided supper and a ball for their friends
and other celebrants.[70] The law was explicit that no one should
directly or indirectly give "money, meat, drink, present, gift, reward
or entertainment ... in order to be elected, or for being elected to
serve in the General Assembly",[71] but the practice of treating the
voters on election day was deeply rooted in Virginia's political
tradition. Thus the law was interpreted as only prohibiting one
offering refreshment "in order to get elected"--something extremely
difficult to prove--but not preventing one from treating his friends.
So, while occasionally voices