The United States is experiencing one of the most tumultuous national election cycles in our country’s history. Already, two weeks before Election Day, millions of people have voted either through early voting or with absentee ballots, also known as mail-in votes. On Saturday, October 24, voters in New York State will begin nine days of early voting. And on Election Day, November 3, registered voters will be able to cast their vote during a full day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
We pulled some images and film footage related to campaigns and elections from our digitized collections to remind everyone of this country’s long history of the democratic process.
Department of Public Works Commissioner Halleran standing by an election poster for President Abraham Lincoln and Vice President Andrew Johnson, the “Union Nomination,” n.d. Borough President Queens Photograph Collection. NYC Municipal Archives
Fiorello LaGuardia ran on the Fusion Party ticket in the 1933 election for mayor. He won. Poster, 1933. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia Collection. NYC Municipal Archives
In 1968, City Council President Paul O’Dwyer ran for the U.S. Senate. He won the primary, but lost in the November general election to the Republican Jacob K. Javits. Senate Campaign Poster. Municipal Archives Collection. NYC Municipal Archives.
Robert Kennedy served in the U.S. Senate representing New York from January 1965 until his assassination in June 1968. Campaign Brochure, 1965. Vertical Files. NYC Municipal Library.