The humble ballot illuminates the noble but highly flawed process at the heart of our American democracy. This talk traces the visual story of the printed ballot, from early handwritten tickets to colorful and typographically outlandish examples from the 19th century. Responding to the explosive growth of an evolving electorate as well as a legacy of fraud, the struggle for suffrage, and concerns about voting security, the ballot reveals insights into our electoral process both past and present.

Alicia Cheng is Head of Design at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.