Hi Cristin,
The folks who replied are correct.  It is a ballot box or voting box, but
the way it is used is a little different.  I am a member of a hundred year
old volunteer fire company and we use such a box to vote on potential new
members.  White and black marbles are stored in the side of the box without
the hinged lid.  The box is passed around the room and each member chooses
either a white marble- for admitting the new member or a black one- for
rejecting the new member.  They then take this marble and poke it through
the hole and it falls into the side with the hinged lid.  Thus it is a
secret ballot because nobody can see any of the marbles in the lidded
compartment side until all members have voted.  When all have voted the
president folds back the lid.  If there is at least one black marble, the
potential member is rejected.  They have been "blackballed"
Sincerely,
David Ryan
Registrar
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
www.cspm.org

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