The Arlington Historical Society is helping our community commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act by partnering on a series of exhibits, panel discussions, and presentations titled “From Barriers to Ballots: The Fight for Equal Voting Rights in Virginia.” In this series of events you’ll learn about the history of voting rights in Arlington and hear the stories of activists, changemakers, and everyday people in Arlington and Northern Virginia who fought for your right to vote. All these events are free and open to the public.
Arlington Historical Society Events
Visit the Arlington Historical Museum’s voting rights temporary exhibition “From Barriers to Ballots” at our recently reopened and revitalized museum. The exhibit features artifacts and documents about Arlington’s voting history including ballot boxes used when the Hume School was a polling place and a poll tax receipt–when you had to pay to be able to vote. We also have information panels describing historic voting barriers in Arlington. We also encourage you to use the ballot boxes to let us know what you think voting means today. (Saturdays 10-4 and Sundays 1-4 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington)
- Saturday: August 2, 2 PM: 15 Minute History Spotlight: A Brief history of Voting in Arlington with Dr. Mark Benbow discusses how voting has changed starting with being a part of DC until 1847, who voted and who could not, voting in the county during the Civil War, and during the Jim Crow era. Finally, he’ll outline changes made during the Civil Rights era and the changes caused by the Voting Rights Act in 1965 , (2nd floor of the Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington)
- Sunday, August 10, 2 PM 15-Minute History Spotlight: Voting Today with Vice-Chair of Arlington’s Electoral Board Richard Samp as he discusses the process for voting in Arlington County elections today and how you can get involved. (2nd Floor, Arlington Historical Museum, 1805 South Arlington Ridge Road, Arlington)
- Saturday, September 13, 2 PM; 15-Minute History Spotlight: Irene Young and Women’s Suffrage with Annette Benbow, director of the Ball-Sellers House. Irene Young was a suffragist who participated in the 1913 Woman’s Suffrage Procession and lived to tell about it. Her experience highlights the opposition to allowing women to vote. (Ball-Sellers House, 5620 3rd Street, South, Arlington)
Events in the “From Barriers to Ballots” Community Series:
- Tuesday, September 16, 6-7:30 PM. “Arlington Civics: Virginia Voting Rights: 1965 to Today. Learn about the changes in Virginia voting at a panel discussion by the League of Women Voters or Arlington and Alexandria City and the Arlington County Office of Elections. There’s no better way to celebrate “National Voter Registrations Day” than learning about YOUR right to vote. (Shirlington Library, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington)
- Saturday, October 11, 2-3 PM. From Barriers to Ballots: Community Activist: Portia A. Haskins. Learn about one of Arlington’s community leaders who has been a leading voting and civil rights activist, Portia Haskins. President of the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, Dr. Scott Taylor will offer an in-depth view of this and other community voting rights advocates. (The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, 3045 Columbia Pike, Arlington)
Exhibits are on view during regular opening hours from August 1 to November 4, 2025 at the following locations
- Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington
- Arlington Central Library
- Arlington Historical Museum Saturday, 10-4, Sunday 1-4
- Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, Thursday, Opens at 3 PM
- Sherwood Regional Library (Aug 1-31), 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria
- City of Fairfax (Sep 1-Nov 4) Regional Library, 10360 North Street, Fairfax
Our exhibition partners include:
- The Arlington Public Library, Charlie Clark Center for Local History
- The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington
- The League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City
- The NAACP Arlington Branch
