INDIANAPOLIS — “Protect the Vote!” will open Thursday, Jan. 23 at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site and will highlight how the United States voting process has changed over the years to become more secure. The exhibit explores the evolution of voting technology over time and the political instances which led to those changes.
With this new exhibit opening during a presidential election year, the Presidential Site hopes to inspire confidence in the electoral process by revealing the sustained efforts and advances made to protect and ensure a fair and free ballot.
Visitors will take a walk through time learning how people once voted and why advancements have been made. It will include historical voting machines such as the direct recording voting system, the “hanging chad” and the glass ballot box. The exhibit will also feature more about President Benjamin Harrison’s role in protecting the voting process and his involvement with the Federal Elections Bill, which would have protected the African American right to vote had it been successful.
The exhibit grand opening is Thursday, Jan. 23 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. in the Welcome Center of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site at 1230 N. Delaware St. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $6 per person and available at EventBrite. Members and IUPUI students, faculty and their guests receive free admission. “Protect the Vote!” will run through Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Tours run on the hour and half-hour, and last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Hours are Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Tickets for the site are $12 for adults, $11 for active military, veterans and seniors, $7 for children 5-17 & college students with ID, free for members and children ages 4 and under. Tickets may be reserved at www.presidentbenjaminharrison.org.