Voting machine used in the 2000 Presidential election: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A Votomatic III vote recorder that folds up into a metal briefcase with a black plastic handle when closed. The briefcase has four circular rubber pads on each side. A sticker near the handle of the briefcase has a barcode and black text that reads “PROPERTY OF LEE COUNTY ELECTIONS 00000104.” A sticker on top of the briefcase reads “CES VOTOMATIC.” Inside the briefcase there are four metal legs (2013.181.1b-e). The metal legs consist of two rods that are connected through elastic string on their inside. The legs fit into four holes in the bottom of the briefcase. Adhered to the inside of the briefcase top is a large informational graphic with black type titled “Voting Instructions.” A power cord attaches to a fluorescent light bulb on the top of the briefcases inside. Two plastic walls fold out of the briefcase and attach to the sides of the briefcase to shield the voting surface. On the inside of the briefcase's bottom is a surface for the voting ballot. At the center of the surface is a clear plastic cover with several small holes that goes over the ballot and is used in punching holes in the ballot. Directly above this plastic cover is a slot with instructions that read, “INSERT CARD HERE” with an arrow pointing down. Also directly above the plastic cover are the instructions “DO NOT FOLD BALLOT PRIOR TO INSERTING!!!” To the left of the plastic cover are instructions in black type. To the right of the plastic cover is red type. In the top right corner of the voting surface is a metal chain connected to a metal point meant to be held by the voter. In the bottom right corner of the voting surface is a black and grey sticker that reads “CES VOTOMATIC.” Found inside the case are two small metal pieces and a small rubber pad (2013.181.1f-g).

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: ca. 1990
• Manufactured by: Computer Election Systems, Inc., American, founded 1969
• Type: ballot boxes
• Medium: aluminum, metal, plastic, paper, glass, rubber, and elastic
• Dimensions: briefcase: 4 x 22 x 21 1/2 in. (10.2 x 55.9 x 54.6 cm)
• Dimensions: when set up as voting booth: 60 1/2 x 28 3/4 x 26 1/4 in. (153.7 x 73 x 66.7 cm)
• Place used: Lee County, Florida, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Politics
• Topic: Suffrage
• Topic: Technology
• Topic: U.S. History, 1969-2001
• Object number: 2013.181.1a-h
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The displayed image also has an explicit CC0 designation. The underlying object's rights statement is: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.