from "Pieces of Our Past" 2017 at OSH Securing our democracy A citizen’s ability to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy going back to the end of the Revolutionary War. This age-old tradition continued in mid-20th Century Saugatuck with ballot containers such as this barrel-shaped example. Lockable, it provided a thin slot for voters to cast their completed ballots, which were later tallied by the county clerk. Each ballot box had to be inspected periodically and approved for continued service. This ballot box was disapproved by Allegan County board of canvassers in 1998, and later donated to the History Center. The 1946 photograph below shows this style of ballot box in use for an election at Saugatuck Village Hall.