Skip to main content
Collections Menu
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Instructional Voting Machine
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Instructional Voting Machine

Artifact IDMO 2019.6
Object Type Machine, Voting
Maker
Dateca. 1936
Mediummetal, paint, rubber, paper
Dimensionsoverall H 12 in x W 13 in x D 4 in (30.5 cm x 33 cm x 10.2 cm )
Physical DescriptionA mechanical instructional voting machine with a handle on the top for carrying. The machine has three columns of levers and four columns of cutout windows for label inserts.

The machine includes paper inserts for the Republican and Democratic party candidates and two ballot questions for the 1940 presidential election in Rhode Island. The candidates listed are Franklin D. Roosevelt and Henry A. Wallace for President and Vice President on the Democratic ticket, and Wendell Willkie and Charles McNary for President and Vice President on the Republican ticket. 18 other named candidates for 9 unidentified positions are also listed.
Historical NoteThis type of machine was used to instruct voters on how to vote on the larger, actual "gear and lever" or "automatic" voting machines.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Pamela A. Sanderson in 2019.
Credit LineGift of Pamela A. Sanderson
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesCampaign Memorabilia (National Archives Identifier 778819)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view