League of Women Voters (1964)

This short clip shows members of the Austin League of Women Voters offering local Austinites an introduction to the voting machine. The League began conducting these demonstrations in January 1964, operating primarily in department stores, banks, grocery stores, and the Travis County Courthouse. Familiarizing citizens with the voting machines was a major goal of the organization, as the device not only simplified and economized the voting process but also reduced human error and expedited election results. To further the transition, the League also worked alongside the Travis County Commisioners Court, the government body that decided what and how many machines were used. According to their mission statement, the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.Although the national organization was founded in 1920, both the Austin Area and the Texas League were established a year earlier in 1919.