One thing that worries me from time to time whenever we have a general election in England is that the so-called secret ballot is not secret. I don't have a great "thing" about this, but it's certainly a fact that the "authorities" can check the votes of individual voters if they wish to. Whenever I've mentioned this among friends, my worries are brushed off as being unnecessary. Also, many of them strongly disagree with me and assert that the voting process is secret despite the fact that it obviously is not. Certainly most of population are under the impression that we have a secret ballot. I'd very much like to know what is the voting process in other countries that pride themselves on having secret ballots. Would any FWers like to respond? Here is the total process in England. Every year householders receive an official form on which they write the names of those who live in the house and their dates of birth (and perhaps a few more details which I've forgotten). All these names then go onto an Electoral Register which is publicly accessible (in the public library, etc). Then, when there's a Local or General election, each of these individuals receive a voting card in the mail which gives their name, address, the location of the voting booth, and their own individual registered number. On going to the voting booth the voter gives his registered number to the official who then checks it against the name and address on the copy of the Electoral Register. The official then tears off a voting slip from his book of such which also has counterfoils which remain there. The voting slips and the corresponding counterfoil carry the same consecutive number. He gives the slip to the voter and writes the registered number of the voter on the counterfoil. The voter, with his voting slip, then makes his way to a curtained area, makes his cross against his choice, then deposits his voting slip in the ballot box. At the end of the voting day, the official seals the ballot box and it is then taken with an escort to the official counting house. There, great play is made of carefully examining the voting box to make sure that the seal is unbroken, the total votes are counted to check that they correspond to the number of counterfoils, and then the voting slips are separated into the chosen candidates and counted. After the count and the formal election of the successful candidate, the voting slips and the counterfoils are then taken to a location (exactly where, I have no idea) and locked away securely (so it is said). By law, in cases of doubt as to the validity of an election in a particular locality, only a court order can allow the voting slips and counterfoils to be examined. However, the fact remains that counterfoils with their consecutive printed numbers and handwritten registered numbers, can be re-united with the consecutive printed numbers of the voting slips, and thus the choice of the individual voter can be identified. I'm prompted to write this because the Director of the "Liberty" organisation in England was on the radio this morning making the same observation, and also saying that rumour has it that re-examination of votes has, in fact, occurred in some instances in the 1960s and 70s. I'd be fascinated to know what precise procedures are carried out in those other countries which pride themselves on a secret ballot. My guess is that all such procedures allow retrospective examination of votes by government authorities. I hope I'm wrong and, if so, the case for changing procedures over here would be all the stronger. Keith Hudson ___________________________________________________________________ Keith Hudson, General Editor, Calus <http://www.calus.org> 6 Upper Camden Place, Bath BA1 5HX, England Tel: +44 1225 312622; Fax: +44 1225 447727; mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________
