Montana exhibit features chads from 2000 election

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — A new Montana State University exhibit on voting includes chads from the 2000 presidential election, historic ballot boxes and a signed speech by President John F. Kennedy.

The American Computer Museum in Bozeman, with help from MSU's Humanities Institute, organized the "Technology and Democracy" display on the history of voting technologies.

"With political memorabilia from important presidential campaigns in the past and reminders that voting in this country has never been just a given, this exhibit invites us to think hard about both who we vote for and how our votes are counted," said Robert W. Rydell, MSU history professor and director of the Humanities Institute.

The exhibit contains a voting machine and ballot box used in Lee County, Fla., during the highly contested general election of 2000. Photos show election officials using magnifying glasses to examine punch card ballots and determine if their chads were hanging, swinging or dimpled in favor of George W. Bush or Al Gore.

The display also includes wooden ballot boxes from the 19th century, a paper ballot box from the Civil War era and campaign buttons from current presidential front runners.

A reception on March 27 —will launchlaunched the exhibit in Wilson Hall at MSU. It will be on display in the northwest corner on the hall's main floor through the fall semester and can be seen any time the building is open — usually 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday.