Ballot

Method of voting designed to secure secrecy, as distinguished from an open or viva voce vote. The ballot was used in Athens in the 5th century B.C., and perhaps before. In Rome the people voted at first by open response, but afterward by tablets bearing the names of their candidates. In Great Britain the ballot was adopted in 1872; in Australia and other British colonies it generally prevails. In France the secret vote was employed in deliberative voting in the Chamber of Deputies. but is now confined to elections by the people; in Germany it is used in all elections for the imperial parlia ment. In Italy candidates for the Chamber of Deputies are elected by ballot in public halls, to which only registered or qualified voters are admitted. Spain, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria have it. In Hungary it is compulsory in the election of municipal councils, but was abolished in parliamentary elections 1874. It existed in the American colonies, and was made obligatory by the constitutions of N. J., Pa., N. C. and other States in 1776. In New York viva voce voting prevailed until 1787. Some reforms in the mode of casting a ballot have been recently adopted in many States and municipalities. The principal object of them is to secure greater secrecy and independence in voting. In many cases the voter prepares his ballot in a place apart, and in such manner that no one else knows how he votes. The two following methods with variations are in use in many of the States. The Australian system has the offices arranged alphabetically with the candidates' names and party affiliation attached, all on one ticket. The voter cro es off those names he does not wish. Another method is to group offices and names by parties, in parallel columns; a cro marked at the head of a column votes the whole column. A split ticket can be made up by cro es against selected names.