BALLOT BOX

CulturePrince Edward Island

Dimensions39.5 x 37 x 24 cm (15 9/16 x 14 9/16 x 9 7/16 in.)

Object numberHF.2021.50.1.1-14

DescriptionA series of 14 wooden ballot boxes with dark brown finish. The full set consists of 15 boxes but one box was sent to Ottawa for permanent display. Each box has a hinged door on the back side with metal lock hardware. On the top side is a slot measuring 8.5cm x 0.75cm.
Narrative

In 1913, secret ballots were reintroduced for provincial elections held on PEI after having been previously repealed in 1879. Public accounts from 1915 show an amount set aside for the construction of these new ballot boxes, the same year the boxes are believed to have been first used. There was one ballot box for each polling station.

Upon the conclusion of voting, the boxes would have been “sealed” using a paper label and sealing wax in order to ensure there was no interference with the ballots. These boxes were used up until the 1940s when tamper-proof metal boxes were introduced. They were repurposed for storing court documents at the Kings County Courthouse until 1970.

Fun fact: These boxes welcomed the first votes cast by women on PEI, after successfully attaining provincial suffrage for some Island women in 1922.