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The Art of Ballots: Political Expression in the 1860s

During the mid-19th century, the creation of election ballots was largely the responsibility of political parties, rather than government entities. Both the Republican and Democratic parties designed and produced their own ballots—often referred to as tickets—highlighting candidates for various offices at the state, local, and federal levels. Voters would typically obtain these ballots from party workers and, after weaving through crowds, cast their votes into transparent ballot boxes, commonly made of glass. This open display of voting led to a climate of intimidation and violence, particularly prevalent in urban areas.

In the context of the 1864 presidential election, for example, the Grant Club in San Francisco crafted a ballot that illustrated the Union’s naval victory over the CSS Alabama at the Battle of Cherbourg. Such imagery was emblematic of the time, as political organizations sought to catch voters’ eyes through intricate designs infused with patriotic themes.

Ballots from this period were not just functional; they became a canvas for political art. Local party entities often transformed ballots into aesthetically pleasing pieces, utilizing patriotic motifs and symbols to engage voters. This artistic approach served a practical purpose as well: it aided illiterate voters or those unfamiliar with English in identifying their preferred candidates. In many situations, voters relied on visual cues rather than reading the names, which sometimes led to confusion and manipulation, as unscrupulous individuals exploited this to mislead voters. One voter recounted in 1863, “I cannot say exactly whether I read the ticket or not; mostly I get the ticket from a man, knowing his politics, and knowing that he feels as I feel myself.”

As President Abraham Lincoln campaigned for re-election in 1864, Republican factions across the country printed ballots adorned with pro-Union slogans, war-related imagery, and popular song lyrics. A notable creation from the Grant Club featured an illustration of the significant naval battle between the USS Kearsarge and the CSS Alabama. On November 8 of that year, members marched to the polls, proudly carrying the tickets they had crafted to symbolize their political convictions.

These ballots frequently showcased likenesses of the most favored candidates, with Lincoln’s image continuing to grace Republican tickets long after the Civil War had concluded. This association kept alive the notion among Northern veterans of the war to vote against Southern Democrats, even in the absence of military conflict.

In the face of Civil War challenges, Democrats in the Union worked to dispel notions of disloyalty through their own designs. An 1864 ballot from Massachusetts, for example, featured patriotic symbols and included a quotation from General George B. McClellan’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination, emphasizing the need to preserve the Union “at all hazards.”

Moreover, significant historical figures were also represented on ballots. An 1868 Republican ticket showcased William U. Saunders, a Black Civil War veteran who campaigned for a Congressional seat in Florida, alongside prominent leaders such as Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax.

The artistic and political implications of these ballots reflect the era’s complex social and political landscape, illustrating how voters were influenced by not only the candidates themselves but also the imagery and messages presented through these unique pieces of paper.

Source
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