Most people don’t think twice about their local high school’s role in the electoral process, but the history of voting locations is fascinating and telling. Before the 20th century, the voting process was largely dominated by local businesses, churches, and town halls. People who were physically incapacitated had to rely on a mobile ballot box to get to them, or have a surrogate cast their ballot in their stead. As cities grew larger and the demand for voting places began to require additional infrastructure, the idea of using a building already dedicated to the public good – a local high school – began to take shape.
The public school system had already been established in the late 19th century as a means to provide a standard education for all children in a given district. As voting practices became more commonplace and municipalities began looking for a convenient solution to providing voting locations, it seemed natural to use the public school system to provide these services. By using already established public infrastructure, governments could save a great deal of money in setting up polling places.
High schools provided the perfect solution: the buildings were already in place and the local community was familiar with them. The community could use them as a hub for running their elections, and they had the advantage of being easily accessible to many of those who wished to vote. Additionally, some states (such as New York) began using schools to help educate the public in civic responsibilities, making it easier to incorporate voting into the school day.
High schools and other educational institutions provide several advantages for voters to this day. For instance, they are generally seen as neutral and unbiased in their approach to voting, and can easily accommodate larger numbers of voters in a single location. In addition, many schools often offer easy access to voting sites and, if necessary, assistance with casting a ballot. Finally, and perhaps most critically, setting up a voting location at a school serves to educate the public on the importance of exercising their right to vote and encourages civic engagement.
Almost 80 years after the first high schools began serving as voting locations, they remain the primary means for running elections across the country. High schools offer all the advantages that were noted at the start, providing a convenient and accessible voting place for citizens to exercise their right to vote. The long and unique history of voting locations is clearly an important part of the democratic process in America, and it’s one that every citizen should appreciate.