Press release : This year, the “straw vote” celebrates its 100th anniversary from October 7 to November 4. Since 1924, during each American presidential election, Harry’s Bar Paris has organized a fake vote called the “straw vote”. American expatriates and Americans passing through are invited to vote (one vote per person) for their favorite candidate at 5 rue Daunou, by presenting an American passport or driver’s license.
The straw vote was invented by Harry MacElhone to give Americans living in Paris, who at the time could not vote by proxy at the embassy or by mail, the opportunity to make their voices heard.
This fictitious vote has become a real institution, which proves to be just as reliable (if not more!) than polling institutes. Indeed, this fictitious election is often accurate, compared to the real vote of American citizens: since 1924, there have only been three errors in 1976, 2004 and 2016. The procedure is rigorous to avoid any cheating and a count is carried out at the end of each week to give the first trends.
The provisional results are written on the bar’s mirror, but the final result is only revealed during the election night at a big Parisian party that this year takes place on Tuesday, November 5.
At each election, a cocktail is specially created to represent each of the two candidates. This year, the Trumpet and Kamala Harry’s Bar are in the spotlight!
Harry’s Bar, a Parisian institution since 1911 owned by the same family for 4 generations
“Let’s say you line up shoulder to shoulder everyone who has been to Harry’s New York Bar. They would probably reach a point quite far away. And if you could calculate the amount of alcohol consumed and the number of words spoken in this place, you would then have the beginning of the history of Harry’s. » article from the Chicago Daily News (1934)
A cocktail bar “traditionally inventive”
Since 1924, the MacElhone family has held the reins of this legendary bar. Harry handed over the reins to Andrew who then passed them on to Duncan. Today, it is run with a new impetus by Franz-Arthur, Harry’s great-grandson, who was born like him on June 16th… 98 years later!
Harry’s Bar
5 Rue Daunou
Paris, 75002 France
