Voting Machine

Name/Title

Voting Machine

Entry/Object ID

2020.2.1

Description

Thin, rectangular, dark gray metal table top voting machine training model. It has several switches, handles, and levers that are made of painted white or red metal. There are instructions for use in the top-left corner, two yes/no polling questions, and rows of candidates for state and national offices that are divided by poltiical affiliation. The company's label is in silver on the bottom-left corner.

Use

Instructional machines like this one familiarized voters on how to operate an actual automatic voting machine (AVM) in order to avoid mistakes on Election Day. In general, voting machines like this were superior in comparison to a ballot box; AVMs kept a running count of votes, while totaling votes in ballot boxes could take hours to days. Additionally, an AVM could be locked by poll officials, reducing the chance of voter fraud.

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Rockwell Automatic Voting Machine Instruction Model

Date made

1960

Place

State/Province

New York

Dimensions

Height

10 in

Width

13 in

Material

Plastic