Voices and Votes: Democracy in America

April 2023-January 2024

When American revolutionaries waged a war for independence they took a leap of faith that sent ripple effects across generations. They embraced a radical idea of establishing a government that entrusted the power of the nation not in a monarchy, but in its citizens. That great leap sparked questions that continue to impact Americans:

• Who has the right to vote?
• What are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens?
• Whose voices will be heard?
• How do you participate as a citizen?
• How do we encourage more people to participate in our democracy?

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is a springboard for discussions about those very questions and how they are reflected in local stories. Our democracy demands action, reaction, vision, and revision. From revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story – the story of democracy in America.

Many thanks to these museums who hosted “Voices and Votes” in 2023-2024:

Howells • April 15 – May 26, 2023
Howells Historical Society, Inc.

Kearney • June 5 – July 10, 2023
Trails & Rails Museum/Buffalo County Historical Society

Belvidere • July 19 – August 20, 2023
Thayer County Historical Society and Museum

Wahoo • August 29 – October 7, 2023
Saunders County Historical Society & Museum

Gering • October 16 – November 20, 2023
Legacy of the Plains Museum

Omaha • December 1, 2023 – January 27, 2024
Great Plains Black History Museum

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. It is based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress and is brought to Nebraska with funding support from the Nebraska Trucking Association and other generous donors.