The New Student's Reference Work/Australian Ballot System

Australian Ballot System is the system of voting used by the several colonies of Australia. It was invented to secure absolute secrecy to the voter and so prevent bribery at elections and effectively check fraud in voting. The printing of the tickets and all expenses are borne by the government. There is but one ticket, on which are printed the names of all the candidates. No electioneering is allowed within fifty feet of the polls. Separate compartments or voting-booths are provided, into which one voter at a time goes, and prepares his vote by drawing a line through the names of the candidates he does not wish to vote for. The system was adopted in New South Wales in 1858, and speedily came into use in the other Australian colonies, where it proved highly successful. The present law in regard to voting in Great Britain, based on this system, was passed in 1872. The Australian method, with some changes, has been adopted in Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Connecticut and other states, where it has been heartily approved.