Description: This sample ballot was issued by Daniel J. Ryan, Ohio Secretary of State, before the election of November 3, 1891, intended to illustrate to Ohioans "the form of a state ballot under the new election law of Ohio." An explanation is given for voting a "straight ticket" (voting for all of the candidates put forth by one political party without having to mark each one on the ballot), as well as for individual candidates or propositions. The general voting process is outlined as well. Political parties represented in this election were the Republican, Democratic, Prohibition, and People's parties. An emblem decorates the top of each column; an eagle with arrows in its talons (Republican Party), a rooster (Democratic Party), a rose (Prohibition Party) and a plow (People's Party). William McKinley was the Republican candidate for governor, and would be elected over the incumbent James Campbell by a margin of over 20,000 votes. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: OVS4678_01
Subjects: Ballots; Election Day; Ohio--Politics and government; Political parties; McKinley, William, 1843-1901; Voting;
Places: Ohio
 

Description: These six photographs show Warren Harding voting in 1920. The first three images show Warren Harding at the voting booth; the fourth image shows Warren Harding in line with his wife, Florence, standing in line to vote. The fifth image shows Florence Harding turning in her ballot, and the final image shows Warren Harding turning in his ballot. Florence Harding was the first First Lady to vote, following the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote. Warren Gamaliel Harding (1865-1923) was born in Corsica (now called Blooming Grove), a small town in Morrow County, Ohio. Harding graduated from Ohio Central College in Iberia at the age of sixteen. His family moved to Marion, where Harding taught school and briefly studied law. He worked occasionally as a reporter for a local paper before buying the Marion Star in 1884. Within five years, the Star was one of the most successful small-town newspapers in the state. Harding became popular as the leader of the Citizen's Coronet Band, which played at political rallies, and for his skill as an orator. Willing to follow the lead of political bosses, Harding advanced rapidly in Ohio politics, serving as state senator and lieutenant governor. In 1914 Harding was elected to the U. S. Senate. He launched his famous "front porch" 1920 presidential campaign from the porch of his Victorian home in Marion, Ohio. He won the presidency with sixty percent of the popular vote, promising a "return to normalcy" following the wave of reforms begun during Theodore Roosevelt's administration. As President, Harding appointed several friends to federal office who proved untrustworthy. His administration was tainted by corruption, and the infamous "Teapot Dome" scandal (in which Harding's Secretary of the Interior leased a U.S. petroleum reserve to a private oil company) nearly destroyed his presidency. After he died in office in August 1923, other scandals were uncovered, further tarnishing Harding's reputation. First Lady Florence Harding (1860-1924) was born Florence Mabel Kling in Marion, where her father was a successful businessman. Her first marriage ended in divorce in 1886. In 1891, she married Warren G. Harding and went to work in the circulation department of her husband's newspaper. Florence Harding was a strong supporter of her husband's political career. As First Lady, Harding reopened the White House to the public; it had been closed when previous president Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke. The couple had no children. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Page1
Subjects: Ohio women; Presidents and Politics; Presidential elections; Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923; Harding, Florence Kling, 1860-1924; First ladies; Voting; Suffrage; Ballots
Places: Marion (Ohio); Marion County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph showing two women before a results board for the 1968 Democratic primary. John Gilligan defeated incumbent U.S. Senator (and former Ohio Governor) Frank Lausche for the Democratic nomination, but later lost to Republican William Saxbe in the general election. Gilligan started his political career in 1953 when he campaigned and won a seat in the Cincinnati City Council. Later, Gilligan ran for the United States House of Representatives and served for one term. However, he was not re-elected and suffered two more political defeats in running for the United States Senate. Despite these failed campaigns, Gilligan won the office of Governor of Ohio in 1971. He served as governor until 1975. His term as governor is remembered for several successes, the beginning of the state lottery, the graduated state income tax, the voting age lowered to eighteen, and an improved transportation infrastructure. After his term, Gilligan focused his political efforts towards international development and also taught at the collegiate level. Influenced by her father's political career and ambitions, Kathleen Gilligan served as governor of Kansas from 2003 until 2009. Under President Barack Obama, she was appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: MSS388AV_B01F05_001
Subjects: Voting; Governors; Lausche, Frank J. (Frank John), 1895-; Gilligan, John Joyce, 1921-; Political elections; Politicians;
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows William Howard Taft (1857-1930) receiving his ballot for the presidential primary in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 1908. Taft was elected president later that year and served one term in office. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Attorney General Alphonso Taft. In this photograph Taft is surrounded by a group of men, one of whom is handing him a white piece of paper. A notation written in white ink appears on the photo: "Wm. H. Taft receiving his ballot. Photo F. Boellinger." Another notatation, written on the bottom white border, reads: "Copyright applied for. Nov-08." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06178
Subjects: Presidents and Politics; Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930; Voting; Presidential elections
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Campaign poster urging Ohio voters to reject State Issues 2, 3 and 5 in an upcoming election. It reads, "State Issues 2, 3, 5 will cost you higher taxes. Vote NO! Issues 2, 3, 5." The poster also describes the three issues, which relate to industry incentives, transportation, and capital improvements. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: OVS_0719
Subjects: Ohio Government; Political culture--Ohio--History; Political elections; Voting
Places: Ohio
 

Description: "It's Up to You in '72 Vote!" a 1972 campaign button with the Pepsi logo designed to target first-time 18-year-old voters and encourage them to exercise their right to vote in the presidential election. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04863
Subjects: Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Voting; Presidential campaigns; Presidential elections
 

Description: Political button for Republican presidential candidate Herbert Hoover, with Hoover's face and the slogan "Put Hoover On." It was made by Whitehead & Hoag of Newark, New Jersey, in 1928. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04864
Subjects: Cultural Ohio--Popular Culture; Voting; Presidential campaigns; Presidential elections
Places: Newark (New Jersey)
 

Description: This poster urges voters to register to vote against the right to work amendment. The "right to work" amendment proposed to the Ohio Constitution in 1958 stipulated that no person could be denied, or excluded from, employment due to membership or non-membership in a labor organization. This placed legal limitations on union security agreements. A vigorous lobbying campaign by the AFL-CIO helped to overwhelmingly defeat the Republican Ohio Assembly's bid to pass the amendment. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: OVS758
Subjects: Labor unions -- Ohio; Political campaigns; Voting; Legislation;
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Although Ohio women's suffrage supporters successfully petitioned to put women's suffrage on the 1912 ballot, the amendment was defeated in the September election. Despite the defeat, Ohio's suffrage activists continued to campaign for women's right to vote. This 3.5" by 5.5" (8.89 by 13.97cm) image depicts representatives of county suffrage organizations demonstrating on the steps of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on July 30,1914. Not until June 16, 1919 did Ohio ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and extend to women the right to vote. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1440_1149243_001
Subjects: Ohio Women; Civil Liberties; Ohio Government; Suffrage; Suffragists; Voting
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)