The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum will open "Voting by Mail: Civil War to Covid-19" on August 24, 2023, with the exhibition running through February 23, 2025. This comprehensive display examines the significant role mail-in voting has played in shaping American democracy over nearly two centuries, challenging perceptions that the practice emerged recently during the Covid-19 pandemic. The exhibition reveals voting by mail has roots dating to the Civil War, when soldiers unable to return home were granted opportunities to cast votes via mail, with the concept gaining further traction during World War II to address similar challenges faced by deployed military personnel.
The exhibition explores how mail has consistently served as a vital conduit for providing citizens with election information and materials, with every U.S. state now incorporating some form of mail-in voting into their electoral processes. Visitors will gain insights into evolving logistical and political factors that have influenced how mail integrates into election systems, illustrating how mail-in voting continues to shape where, when, and how Americans participate in elections. Historical artifacts include a Civil War-era envelope designed for mailing soldiers' votes on tally sheets from Ohio's 1864 state election and World War II absentee voting materials developed for U.S. Armed Forces featuring innovative blank ballot designs that accommodated lengthy overseas mailing times.
Modern election mail examples prominently featured include absentee ballots, mail-in ballot envelopes, official election information guides, and election notices. These contemporary artifacts demonstrate the ongoing relevance and evolution of mail-in voting practices. Elliot Gruber, director of the National Postal Museum, stated the institution is excited to present the role of mail in U.S. elections for government representatives serving the American public, noting that mail as an official conduit of election information and voting materials has long been part of national history. The exhibition is supported by public programming and teacher resources, with a special website created to make exhibition stories, themes, and historical artifacts accessible to wider audiences.
"Voting by Mail: Civil War to Covid-19" offers visitors opportunity to explore the intricate relationship between mail services and democratic process in the United States. By tracing evolution of mail-in voting from Civil War inception to expanded use during recent Covid-19 pandemic, the exhibition provides valuable context for understanding current debates and practices surrounding mail-in voting. As discussions about election integrity and accessibility continue to dominate political discourse, this timely exhibition serves as crucial resource for citizens seeking to understand historical precedents and ongoing importance of mail-in voting in American democracy. The exhibition underscores resilience and flexibility of American electoral processes by showcasing adaptability of U.S. postal system in facilitating democratic participation across different eras and challenges.
