Hands On Stamps

Alderney presented a set of 5 stamps in honor of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910). Each stamp features a short citation from her prolific writings on the principles of nursing as well as philosophical thoughts.

Hands voting as part of the democratic process have been posted earlier (11/3/2015 and 2/13/2016) but I didn't find these small French self-adhesive ones here (2008).

Luxembourg called attention to the elections to the European parliament, 1989.

After the first world war, in 1920, the people of Kärnten were given the choice of remaining Austrian citizens or becoming citizens of Yugoslavia (now Slovenia is the country bordering Austria). They stayed with Austria.

In Indonesia voters dip a finger in a small pot of paint which makes it impossible for them to vote more than once.

The DDR (German Democratic Republic), or East Germany, had elections in 1950 but these were thoroughly rigged in favor of the Communist Party. Anyone in opposition was encouraged to leave westward. Millions did so until the wall came up in 1961. Design by Gravenhorst; bonus a Peace Dove.

Are the ballot boxes this pretty in the US?

The Pitcairn Islands celebrated their constitution: "An elder or magistrate is to be elected by the free votes of every native born on the island, male or female, who shall have attained the age of eighteen years....". In other words, women had suffrage there from 1838. In Great Britain equality with respect to voting was reached in 1928, in the US the year was 1920. The Bounty landed at Pitcairn; the stamp with the map is one of the first stamps issued by Pitcairn, 1940.

The first free elections in Czechoslovakia since 1946 took place in June 1990 without incident and with more than 95% of the population voting. On 1st January 1993, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic (Slovakia) were simultaneously and peacefully founded. (cited from Wikip) This stamp, with the nation's colors, was issued for that 1990 election, 1st June 1990.

Andorra, located in the heart of the Pyrenees Mountains, has a very complex system of government. The Parliament of Andorra is known as the General Council from which the head of state is elected. Andorra has close ties to France and Spain. Suffrage for women since 1970.

In Mexico women were given the right to vote in 1953. The indistinct background of the 2013 stamp shows a photo from that time 60 years earlier.

A stamp announcing voting in Thailand, 2010. With a turnout of 75% in the spring of 2011, the populist Pheu Thai Party won a majority. Its leader Yingluck Shinawatra became the first female prime minister in the history of Thailand. Massive unrest in Bangkok had preceded the election.

Pakistan has unique ballots; they are a combination of symbols/logos and writing for each political party, making it possible for those who have difficulty reading to cast their votes. General election 2013.

An antique wooden chest is pictured on the stamp Andorra issued to celebrate 30 years of universal suffrage for citizens above the age of 18 (see the +18 on the hand).

New Caledonia still has very close ties to France, as can be seen by the two framing sculptures in the stamp (head of state is the president of France).