Throughline – "How the Civil War Changed How We Vote"

NPR, February 24, 2026
Hosts: Ramtin Arablouei & Rund Abdelfatah
Featured Guest: Richard Carwardine (Rhodes Professor Emeritus of American History, Oxford University)

Episode Overview

In this episode of Throughline, hosts Ramtin Arablouei and Rund Abdelfatah explore how the American Civil War, particularly the critical election of 1864, irrevocably transformed voting in the United States. The story investigates how wartime pressures led to innovative forms of voting, such as absentee ballots for soldiers, and how this contest tested the very core of American democracy. Featuring analysis by historian Richard Carwardine and voices from primary sources, the episode traces the interplay of power, principle, and political machination that marked this pivotal chapter in voting history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Civil War and Democracy Under Threat

• Setting the Stage (00:18–02:18)

  • Rund and Ramtin introduce the stakes: the Civil War isn't just about survival of the Union or abolition of slavery, but about whether a democracy can survive civil conflict.
  • Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation is highlighted as a turning point, tying peace to the end of slavery.

• Political Ramifications (01:28)

  • Lincoln's Proclamation was politically risky; opponents accused him of prolonging the war for abolition rather than reunion.
  • “He's giving political ammunition to the Democrats... you could get peace if only you were prepared to think about reuniting the country on the Constitution as it once was, not on what you want it to be.” — Richard Carwardine (01:50)

The Stakes of the 1864 Election

• Election Amid War (02:21–04:00)

  • The episode calls the 1864 election “the most significant for democracy in American history.”
  • Lincoln faces not only a divided country but also a Republican Party worried about losing key states.

• Battlefield Losses and Political Uncertainty (06:17–07:03)

  • Confederates and many in the North believed war-weariness would hand the election to Democratic challenger General George McClellan.
  • “You’re going to lose Illinois, you're going to lose Indiana, you're going to lose Pennsylvania...” — Lincoln’s party chairman relays dire forecasts (06:37)

Ideological Divides: Abolition vs. Reunion

• The Candidates and Their Visions (07:14–07:28)

  • McClellan ran on ending the war and reuniting the nation, with or without abolition.
  • Lincoln’s platform: reunion and emancipation, promising “a richer democracy.”

• Soldier Sentiment and the Meaning of the Vote (07:38–09:15)

  • Heated political debate raged among both civilians and soldiers.
  • Immigrants and Black soldiers (about 10% of the Union Army) saw the conflict as a fight for freedom and the “last best hope of earth.”
  • “McClellan... ever the chief instruments in giving aid... the ardent lover of human slavery.” — Letter from Black Union soldier, 5th Massachusetts Cavalry (09:15)

Voting During Wartime: Legal Innovations and Controversy

• The Problem of Disenfranchisement (09:38–11:16)

  • Most soldiers could not vote—only one state allowed absentee voting at war’s start.
  • Over one million soldiers, a significant pool of potential voters, were disenfranchised unless changes were made.

• Republican Push for Soldier Voting (10:19–10:32)

  • Republicans, aware of soldiers’ loyalty, advocated expanding the vote.
  • Lincoln personally encouraged generals to allow furloughs for voting (10:41).

• State-by-State Solutions (11:02–11:54)

  • States begin to pass laws allowing soldiers to vote from the field—pioneering absentee voting and proxy voting.
  • Risks: vote fraud, impersonation, coercion by officers, and tampering with ballots (11:54–12:17).

Allegations of Fraud & the Legitimacy of Results

• Partisan Accusations (12:17–13:45)

  • Accusations from both sides: Democrats claim Republican manipulation and ballot alteration; Republicans cite Democratic attempts at ballot fraud.
  • Notable quote from a soldier frustrated at being denied leave because of political preferences:
    “I suppose I might have gotten home if I would have said I would vote for A. But never. I would sooner stay here for another year than to come home and vote for him.” — Union soldier (12:59)

• Affirming the Vote’s Meaning

  • “I cast the first vote I have ever cast for the election of Lincoln. In doing so, I felt that I was doing my country as much service as I have ever done on the field of battle.” — Union soldier (13:45)

Election Day & the Aftermath

• A Tense, Historic Day (14:02–14:28)

  • Election Day, November 8, 1864: passed peacefully but tense; high turnout, with soldiers’ votes overwhelmingly favoring Lincoln.
  • Lincoln receives three times as many soldier votes as McClellan.

• Assessment of Integrity (14:40)

  • Despite fraud and manipulation, historian Richard Carwardine asserts the outcome was “not a distortion” and that the process ultimately worked.

Legacy: What the 1864 Election Changed

• Lincoln’s Reflections (15:11–16:06)

  • Lincoln’s address underscores the triumph of holding a free election “in the midst of a great civil war.”
    • “The election... has done good, too. It has demonstrated that a people's government can sustain a national election in the midst of a great civil war. Until now, it has not been known to the world that this was a possibility.” — Lincoln (15:37)

• Long-term Impact (16:06–16:48)

  • The successful use of absentee ballots during the Civil War laid the groundwork for broader, continuing voting rights and methods.
  • Democracy’s core value—the right to vote—endured and expanded under fire.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The election of 1864 is... the most significant for democracy in American history.” — Richard Carwardine (02:21)
• “You are ending what Lincoln called the last best hope of earth. But it's what they understand to be the last best hope of earth too.” — Richard Carwardine (08:14)
• “There’s only one State in 1861 when the war starts, that has actually granted soldiers the right of voting, of absentee voting.” — Richard Carwardine (09:49)
• “I felt that I was doing my country as much service as I have ever done on the field of battle.” — Union soldier (13:45)
• “Democracy managed to preserve its most fundamental pillar. Voting.” — Ramtin Arablouei (16:06)
• “It has not been known to the world that this was a possibility.” — Abraham Lincoln (15:37)

Key Timestamps

• 00:18 – Introduction to the main theme
• 01:13 – Emancipation Proclamation excerpt
• 02:21 – Stakes of the 1864 election
• 06:17 – Lincoln’s electoral challenge
• 07:38 – Political debate among soldiers
• 09:49 – Soldiers’ disenfranchisement
• 11:16 – Legal innovations in soldier voting
• 12:27 – Allegations of voting fraud
• 13:45 – The meaning of a soldier’s vote
• 14:02 – Election Day events
• 15:11 – Lincoln’s post-election address
• 16:06 – Long-term impact and legacy

Conclusion

Through narrative, archival voices, and expert analysis, this Throughline episode vividly illustrates how the Civil War—and especially the 1864 presidential election—became a crucible in which new practices for American voting rights were forged. The episode makes clear that democracy’s endurance, especially under the strain of war, relied on innovation, inclusion, and the determination to maintain the right of the people to be heard—even against great odds.