The Day ? voted

[HughStew]

Somewhere back around 1960 there was a short story in one of the scifi magazines called The Day ? Voted (? is a name I've forgotten). It told of the day when computers were so good that they needed only one vote to predict the entire election. So to save money, the parties spent one year wooing ?. Then he cast his vote and the election was decided.

Can anyone find this story - I'd love to read it again.

Many Thanks = HughStew

[GOLLUM]

Hi Hugh and welcome to Chrons.

I've moved your request to our Book Search subforum for greater exposure.

Best of luck.

[ktabic]

The only one I can think of is Franchise by Issac Asimov, in which Norman Muller is chosen as Voter of the Year - funnily enough for 2008.

[Ian Whates]

I'll second ktabic. From the description given, it's either "Franchise", someone nicking Asimov's idea, or one heck of a coincidencein parallel plotting.

[pyan]

Yes. I'll third that..

The only thing I can think of is that the editor of the magazine didn't think that "Franchise" was a snappy enough title, and changed it, probably with the Good Doctor's (willing or unwilling) consent.

This happened quite frequently in those days, and the authors usually put up with it, especially if the sale of the piece was conditional on the title-change. "I, Robot" was the publisher's change to Asimov's original title, "Mind and Iron", for instance.

Usually they were changed back when the author became well enough known to be anthologized - several of the Asimov collections refer to this happening in his notes between the stories.

[ktabic]

Ah, I didn't know that. Makes finding stories a bit harder.

[Chefsol]

I'm gonna go ahead and fourth the opinion of it being Franchise. Before I even finished reading the initial post I thought... UNIVAC. So it only makes sense when I saw the responses that it would be Franchise... with the multivac! Don't recall ever hearing it by any name close to what you mentioned though.

[pyan]

Originally Posted by ktabic

Ah, I didn't know that. Makes finding stories a bit harder.

Oh yes...

I've seen comments from several "Golden Age" authors about editors changing titles. John W.Campbell and Hugo Gernsback were notorious for it, IIRC.

[Ian Whates]

Originally Posted by Chefsol

Don't recall ever hearing it by any name close to what you mentioned though.

No, nor do I. The ISFDB is normally pretty good at listing the alternate titles of stories, and it has nothing listed for "Franchise". Isaac Asimov - Summary Bibliography (Check 1955 when you eventually reach the short story listings... They're a long way down; a reminder of just how much Asimov did!)

[HughStew]

You are all absolutely right - it shows what a 74 year old brain can forget. 'Franchise' is the story, and it's a wonderful coincidence that I thought to seek it out the year that the story takes place in.

Thanks to all for finding it for me.

Hugh Stewart

[Ursa major]

Originally Posted by pyan

"I, Robot" was the publisher's change to Asimov's original title, "Mind and Iron", for instance.

And the publisher's title is, frankly, far better, IMHO.