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BackStory - Early and Often: Voting in America

From BackStory with the American History Guys | 00:53:53
Producers: Tony Field

Credit:
In this pre-election special, the American History Guys consider the evolution of American democracy. What did the Founders think it entailed? How have we tweaked their system since?

Although the memory of hanging chads still clouds the electoral mood, American elections have come a long way. Before the adoption of the secret ballot in the late 19th century, voting was anything but a private matter, and often involved trickery, extortion, and large quantities of alcohol. And for decades after that, the right to vote continued to be limited to a minority of the American citizenry.

Join the American History Guys for a special Election Day episode of BackStory. Over the course of the hour, they will consider how our "fundamental right" has evolved, and take listener calls on the subject. How did Americans used to elect their leaders? What did the Founders think democracy entailed, and how have we tweaked their system since then? Have our reforms really improved things, and if so, why do so few people vote? And finally -- what was the point of the Electoral College, anyway?

Guests include:
- Mark Summers, Professor of History, University of Kentucky. Author, "Party Games: Getting, Keeping, and Using Power in Gilded Age Politics"
- Alexander Keyssar, Professor of History & Social Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Author, "The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States"
- Calls and questions from BackStory listeners
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Although the memory of hanging chads still clouds the electoral mood, American elections have come a long way. Before the adoption of the secret ballot in the late 19th century, voting was anything but a private matter, and often involved trickery, extortion, and large quantities of alcohol. And for decades after that, the right to vote continued to be limited to a minority of the American citizenry. Join the American History Guys for a special Election Day episode of BackStory. Over the course of the hour, they will consider how our "fundamental right" has evolved, and take listener calls on the subject. How did Americans used ...
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Broadcast History

Will air on three stations in Virginia October 31 and November 1.

Timing and Cues

00:00 ? 00:59 BILLBOARD
IC: From VFH Radio in Charlottesville, Virginia, this is Backstory.
OC: First, this news.

01:00 ? 05:59 NEWS HOLE

06:00 ? 18:59 SEG A
IC: This is Backstory, with us, the American History Guys.
OC: More Backstory, coming up in a minute

6:00-9:04 Intro/Voting in Colonial America
18th Century Guy Peter Onuf describes voice voting in colonial Virginia.

9:05-18:59 Voting in the Gilded Age
19th Century Guy Ed Ayers interviews historian Mark Summers about corruption at the polls in the late nineteenth century.

19:00 ? 19:59 STATION BREAK 1 (MUSIC BED)

20:00 ? 39:59 SEG B
IC: This is Backstory. I?m Peter Onuf.
OC: ?and an anonymous donor.

20:00 ? 22:42 The ?Australian Ballot?
The Guys discuss the origins of the Australian ballot with an expert from down under.

22:43 ? 38:47 Listener Calls
Backstory listeners join the Guys on the phone with their questions about the history of voting in America.

38:48 ? 38:59 FUNDING CREDITS

39:00 ? 39:59 STATION BREAK 2 (MUSIC BED)

40:00 ? 59:00 SEG C
IC: This is Backstory. I?m Peter Onuf.
OC: ?at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.

40:00 ? 58:05 The Electoral College
The American History Guys clear up some common misconceptions about the electoral college. And 20th Century Guy Brian Balogh interviews historian Alexander Keyssar about its origins.

58:05 ? 58:59 PRODUCTION/FUNDING CREDITS

***********************************************************************
Contact: Producer, Tony Field (434) 924-8922, tfield@virginia.edu

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