ballot

[Fr. ballot = a bailot, a voting-ball, a pannier, a basket: Sp. bulota; Port, balote; Ital, ballotta = a little ball, dim in. of ball a = a ball.] 1. A ball used for the purpose of voting. In casting a ball for or against an individual, the arrangement sometimes is that if the vote be designed in his favour, then a white ball is used; but if it be intended to be against him, then one of a black colour is employed -whence the phrase "to blackball one." Other methods, however, may be adopted: thus, a ball of any colour put through a hole into one drawer may indicate a favourable vote, and into another an unfavourable one. Used in this sense, lit. , for such a ball as that described, or fig . , for anything, even though not a ball, employed in secret voting. 2. The method of voting in a secret manner, by means of balls of different colours, or put into different compartments, or in any other way; secret as opposed to open voting. Admi ion into scientific societies, clubs, the direction of banks and other large commercial establishments, has long been conducted by ballot. In ancient Athens and the other Greek states it was in use when votes had to be taken on political questions. It has long been established in America, and for a shorter period in France. In Great Britain it constituted one of the five points in the Chartist programme, both of the great political parties in the state being at first opposed to it, as deeming it a revolutionary project. Gradually, however, the ma of the Liberal party ceased to fear the ballot, and opposition to it on the part of the Conservatives became le pronounced, till at last, while Mr. Gladstone was in the plenitude of his power, a bill, legalising it as an experiment for eight years, was pa ed during the se ion of 1872. Its merits are that it constitutes a considerable barrier in the way both of intimidation and bribery, and thus encourages the voter to expre his real sentiments, besides making elections much le likely to result in riot than when the old system prevailed. Within recent years a specially secret system of voting has been devised in Australia, and adopted in several other countries, notably in many of the states of the American Union. The purpose of this is to prevent intimidation of the voter, by enabling him to keep the character of his vote strictly secret, a result which was not achieved under the old system of the so-called secret ballot. "A motion was made that the committee should be instructed to add a clause enacting that all elections should be by ballot ."- Macaulay: Hist. Eng . , ch. xxi.