Max Valentin (Curator, FABEL) - "In this exhibition of ballot papers spanning more than 100 years with a focus on five countries, we can see how ballots mirror and change with historical context, societal demands, and geopolitical influences: the influence and spread of the party focussed French ballot system in the earlier part of the 20th century, and the rise in popularity of the single, government-issued, Australian ballot over time."

Therese Pearce-Laanela (Senior Programme Manager, International IDEA) - "The design of a ballot paper is important to election administrators as a key tool to understand the voter’s intentions and political choices: a good design presents clear and understandable options to voter and reduces the chances of voter error. But beyond this utilitarian function, the ballot carries a powerful symbolic value of the compact between the citizen and the state, or, more simply put: ‘my vote matters’. This exhibition presents a range of ballots that illustrate these design choices and historical significance – from the 2000 Florida Gore – Bush ‘hanging chad’ ballot, to the South African 1994 first post-apartheid ballot."

This timeline has been made available through close cooperation between Studio Kalleinen (FI), IESC (LT), Folkevirket (DK), Fabel (SE) and International IDEA with financial support by Nordic Culture Fund