Jon Snow opened the exhibition at the People's History Museum in Manchester.

Election! Britain Votes is open until June 28 2015, and as well as providing historical facts and statistical analysis on elections over the past 100 years, it will also closely follow the stories, drama and campaigns during the lead-up to the general election with a programme of live events and debates taking place at the museum. Dr Chris Burgess said, "I had not worked out how good an exhibition about Elections could be, it's completely thrilling, it brings the whole thing to life,"

"When you look at the exhibition and you see the statistics, it makes you think about the questions, why isn't power devolved locally? Why have so few women have sat in the House of Commons? All these things come flooding into your mind as you go around. It's a political trigger."

Museum director, Katy Ashton added, "It was a real pleasure to welcome Jon, even more so to hear his praise for the way the exhibition has delivered on its promise, which is to encourage people to think about their vote, why it matters and to understand how the political system works. "To have someone of his experience and stature endorse what we have done here and to respond to it so positively with his own ideas and thoughts was fantastic."