Behavior and Smithsonian Get Out the Vote

May 13th, 2004 —

Opening July 16, the exhibition examines the history of voting techniques in America, from the days of the ballot box to the infamous Votomatic machines from the 2000 Florida elections. Also included is a look at the future of technology and voting machines. Visitors can cast ballots firsthand via a ballot box, gear-and-lever machine, or a Datavote punch card machine in the interactive portion of the exhibition.

The exhibition features many artifacts portraying the history of voting in American, including a 19th century wooden ballot box, blanket ballots, gear-and-level voting machines and handbills, the magnifying glass used in 2000 by Judge Robert Rosenberg in Broward County, Fla., to examine ballots during that year’s contested presidential election.

“Vote: The Machinery of Democracy” places voting firmly in a social context, as it reflects how societal changes have affected the ways Americans vote.

We are very excited about the Web site we are building, which will allow visitors to experience this wealth of information online. Check back here in July as we launch the site in concert with the official opening at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. And be sure to get out and vote this November!

« Previous News & Press