THE BALLOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3752, 19 November 1873, Page 3

THE BALLOT.

[PBOXI A CORRESPONDENT.]

Mr first impressions of the ballot, as employed in New Zealand, are not of a favourable nature. The ballot is supposed (o be un institution by means of which an elector may record his vote in a manner unknown to anyone but himself; that pressure from without »'»y not force a man to vote against his conscience ; that 110 one may, after the election, do him an ill turn or refuse to do him a good one because ho voted for A, and did not vote for B. In short, llio spirit of vote by ballot is to make " free and independent electors." This is not the case in this province, or why did the returning officers at ihe election last week mark on the ballot paper supplied to each voter his number 011 the electoral roll ? Of course by this means every vote u;ay be traced. I do not say that it is probable tho secrets of the ballot may over be exposed ; that B may use his influence with tho reluming officer to ascertain for whom No. 999 voted; or that any of theabovo abuses may spring up, arising from the facilities existing for them. But I would " like to know, you know," why this practice. Perhaps some wiser pen than mine will enlighten me.

[[Our correspondent may rest assured that the ballot iu Now Zealand is as secret as it is possible to be if fraud or double voting is lo bo l;ept in check. The returning oliieer could not tell who 999 voted for unless ho broke open the ballot-box after il was scaled up, an occurrence which could scarcely by any possibility happen without being known.— Ed. N.Z.H.]