The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has announced the opening of a new exhibition titled "Voting by Mail: Civil War to Covid-19," which will be on display from August 24 through February 23, 2025. This exhibition sheds light on the historical and contemporary significance of mail-in voting in the United States, tracing its development from the Civil War era through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Voting by mail is not a recent phenomenon. It began during the Civil War when soldiers, unable to return home, needed a method to participate in elections. This practice saw a resurgence during World War II for similar reasons. Over the years, mail has continued to play a crucial role in providing Americans with access to election information and materials, ensuring broader participation in the democratic process. Today, every state in the U.S. has some form of mail-in voting.
The exhibition "Voting by Mail: Civil War to Covid-19" delves into the legislative changes and logistical adaptations that have shaped mail-in voting over time. It highlights the pivotal role of mail in enabling military personnel and civilians to vote when they cannot be physically present at their polling stations. During the Civil War and World War II, many states established or expanded absentee voting for military voters, ensuring their votes were counted despite being deployed far from home.
The early 20th century saw the growth of absentee voting for civilians. Kansas became the first state to permit mail-in voting in 1901, initially limited to railroad employees traveling for work. Since the 1980s, several jurisdictions, including eight states and the District of Columbia, have adopted all-mail voting systems, automatically sending ballots to registered voters. The Covid-19 pandemic further accelerated the adoption of mail-in voting, leading to new laws and debates over the practice.
The exhibition features a range of historical and contemporary artifacts that illustrate the evolution of mail-in voting. Among the objects on display are a Civil War envelope used to mail soldiers’ votes in the 1864 Ohio state election, World War II absentee voting materials designed for U.S. Armed Forces, and modern election mail items such as absentee ballots, mail-in ballot envelopes, and official election information guides.
Elliot Gruber, director of the museum, emphasized the importance of this exhibition in highlighting the role of mail in U.S. elections. “The history of mail as an official conduit of election information and election voting materials has long been part of our nation’s history,” Gruber stated.
The exhibition is complemented by public and educational programming, including resources for teachers. A special website offers access to the stories, themes, and historical artifacts featured in the exhibition, providing a comprehensive overview of the role of mail-in voting in American democracy.
