Voting in America
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Charles Sable is curator of decorative arts at The Henry Ford.
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From the founding of the nation, there has never been a common American voting experience. Methods vary across states, counties, and municipalities, reflecting differing and ever-evolving ideas about how to vote — and who should participate. Because changes that address problems with voting systems invariably create new ones, the story of voting in America is one of constant reform.
Engraving, "Second Continental Congress Voting Independence," Made circa 1926 from a 1784 Painting
"The County Election," 1854
At first, only white male property owners and taxpayers could vote. Over time, reforms in most states expanded the electorate. By 1840, nearly 80 percent of adult white males headed eagerly to the polls. On election day, an often unruly affair, candidates and campaigners solicited support. Votes were often cast by voice or paper ballot and recorded — in public — by local officials.
Democratic Party Ticket Ballot, 1860
Ohio National Union Party Ticket for the 1864 Presidential Election
There were few official guidelines, so the design and format of "party tickets" varied greatly. The system could be confusing — and it presented opportunities for fraud. Motivated party operatives and individual voters found ways to cast multiple votes.
A Thrilling Incident during Voting, 18th Ward, Philadelphia, Oct 11, 1864
Harper's Weekly Cover, "The First Vote," November 16, 1867
African American men won the right to vote after the Civil War, with the passage of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But when the Reconstruction Era ended, many states — especially in the South — found ways to disenfranchise Black and poor white voters. Poll and property taxes, literacy tests, and residency requirements prevented many people from voting.
"Tammany" Mechanical Bank, circa 1875
Toward the end of the 19th century, a growing electorate and organized political "machines" — groups like the Tammany Society that used violence and intimidation to manipulate elections in New York City — worried election officials. To make elections honest, reformers introduced changes to ballots and vote counting methods.
1912 Presidential Election Ballot for the Town of Castile, New York
Collapsible Modular Voting Booths, 1920-1935
Ballot Box, 1930-1960
Hood Ornament, "Votes for Women," 1900-1920
How to Get the Best for Your Ballot, 1956
Organizations like the League of Women Voters — founded in 1920 by leaders of the women's suffrage movement — pushed for continual election reform. These groups also encouraged citizens to take an active role in government and sought to educate the electorate about political issues.
Instruction Ballot for Voters, General Election, November 8, 1960
Gear and Lever Voting Machine, 1978
Poster, "Presidential Election 1960: Vote for the Candidates and Party of Your Choice--But Vote!"
The Ford Motor Company World Headquarters Displaying "VOTE" Sign, Dearborn, Michigan, 1960
Efforts to remind voters of upcoming elections and persuade them to go to the polls range from the modest — such as a postcard or campaign button — to the extreme. Before the 1960 election, Ford Motor Company transformed its enormous headquarters adjacent to a busy freeway into an illuminated billboard to help get out the vote.
Button, Abolish Poll Tax: 100% Democracy, circa 1940
Despite sweeping change in American elections during the first half of the 20th century, challenges remained. In the 1960s, continuing discriminatory practices that prevented African Americans from voting — or even registering to vote — sparked violent clashes. High-profile protests organized by voting rights activists ultimately led to new legislation that prohibited racial discrimination in voting.
