Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Voting: The Present and Future Ballot"

The Presidential Campaign Trail

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:53:48 GMT

Presidential campaigns, inaugurations and the expansion of voting rights are the topics covered in this section of the online exhibition The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden. Campaign items and posters will help students learn about methods and strategies that have been used by candidates to win election. They will also see how inaugurations have become public holidays when Americans celebrate their democratic customs. Finally, they will explore how minorities, women, the poor, and young adults fought to obtain the right to vote.

Voting: Florida 2000

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:35:45 GMT

Public confidence in the accuracy of voting systems is the focus of this section of the online exhibition entitled Vote: The Machinery of Democracy, from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Students will learn how the recount of ballots during the 2000 presidential election called into question the precision of punch card ballots as well as the results of the voting.

Vote: The Machinery of Democracy Homepage

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:09:00 GMT

In this online exhibition, students will explore the history of voting methods in the United States, study how ballots and voting systems have evolved over the years as a response to political, social, and technological change, transforming the ways in which Americans vote. The exhibit includes sections on paper ballots, reform, the gear & lever voting machine, Florida 2000, and present and future ballots.