Do you support the idea of a secret ballot?

[Joe Republic]

This is just a simple poll to see if you support the idea of a secret ballot to be used for fantasy elections.  A bill introducing the system is currently being debated in the Senate, and I encourage you to go there to examine the details for yourself.  But in the meantime, I just want people to discuss the principle of having a secret ballot for federal elections.

I would also like to hear from the people who agreed to join the "Chartist League" back in February.  Al, Texasgurl, Nation, Lewis Trondheim, King and Ian all expressed support for the idea in that thread.

I firmly support the idea too, for the following crucial reasons:

1. It provides anonymity to voters and thereby helps prevent voter intimidation.

2. It removes tactical voting from deciding elections.

[Ben Meyers]

I support this 100% - it is an essential feature of democracy

[Rob]

I initially was concerned by the potential for fraud, but after reading the bill, it seems that there are suitable precautions in place. I strongly support this reform.

[Speed of Sound]

2. It removes tactical voting from deciding elections.

this definetly needs to be addressed

[TheWildCard]

This would be good. What I suggest is you have to PM the moderater and the SoFA. I talked to MHS about this and he brought up the idea of a third person which would also look over the ballots. It'd make sense.

Also just think of how entertaining exit polls would be lol

[Emsworth]

This would be good. What I suggest is you have to PM the moderater and the SoFA.

What would prevent either of these two people from voting tactically?

[TheWildCard]

This would be good. What I suggest is you have to PM the moderater and the SoFA.

What would prevent either of these two people from voting tactically?

If they vote first they cannot.

[Joe Republic]

Please view the actual bill itself, as it already involves three people counting the ballots.

[TheWildCard]

Please view the actual bill itself, as it already involves three people counting the ballots.

Sorry voted than posted right afterwards

[Colin]

I need to ask people a key question. What is so wrong with tactical voting? If people decide to vote tactically, it is a conscious decision and it is one that is made without coercion or decite, what is so wrong with it? People aren't forced to vote tactically so what is wrong with it.

[Joe Republic]

Because it's an underhand way of ensuring certain people don't get elected.  It betrays the whole point of democracy, and undermines the honest voters who are simply voting for the people they actually want to support.

[Colin]

Because it's an underhand way of ensuring certain people don't get elected.  It betrays the whole point of democracy, and undermines the honest voters who are simply voting for the people they actually want to support.

How is that different from coalitions? Or giving concessions to people to have them vote for you?

[Dave from Michigan]

I really don't like this idea of secret ballot it's always been public, what about fraud your only banned form voting for a maximum of one year.

[Joe Republic]

Because it's an underhand way of ensuring certain people don't get elected.  It betrays the whole point of democracy, and undermines the honest voters who are simply voting for the people they actually want to support.

How is that different from coalitions? Or giving concessions to people to have them vote for you?

Very different.  What you describe is campaigning for votes, while what I describe involves people sitting back and waiting to see what other people do first.  That's not real democracy IMO.

[TheWildCard]

Also if there is only a private ballot it does not benefit anyone to wait until the last second to vote. Whereas with viewable ballots you are better off if you wait until the last seconds to make your move.

Also I agree with everything else Joe has said on the issue.

[??????????]

Because it's an underhand way of ensuring certain people don't get elected.  It betrays the whole point of democracy, and undermines the honest voters who are simply voting for the people they actually want to support.

Amen to that. See the events of last night.

[MasterJedi]

Yes I do and I will vote for the bill!

[jokerman]

Yes I do and I will vote for the bill!

[Joe Republic]

Yes I do and I will vote for the bill!

Thank you Senator.  Your continuing support so far has been much appreciated. 

[MasterJedi]

Yes I do and I will vote for the bill!

Thank you Senator.  Your continuing support so far has been much appreciated. 

See I was one of the only people to support this from the beginning.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

While I appreciate the problems the current system has, going to a secret ballot is not the only choice for reform.  We've had several spoilt ballots resulting from people attempting to make clear their intentions.  Assuming that we keep open ballots why not allow people to make whatever edits they wish until the voting booth thread is locked at the end of the election?  Granted, it turns our electoral system into a caucus-type system, but we're small enough and generally active enough that such a system might actually be more appropriate.

[Gabu]

Yes I do and I will vote for the bill!

Thank you Senator.  Your continuing support so far has been much appreciated. 

See I was one of the only people to support this from the beginning.

I was another; don't forget about me.

[Frodo]

Before voting in this poll, I have one question dealing with practicalities regarding secret ballots -how do we turn in 'secret' ballots in the event that the Senate passes this bill?  Do we PM them to the Secretary of Forum Affairs or some other government official as opposed to the current system we have in which we post our ballots in a designated thread open to the entire world?  How does it work?  Take a voter using this new system -what must they do to turn in a secret ballot?  

[Gabu]

Before voting in this poll, I have one question dealing with practicalities regarding secret ballots -how do we turn in 'secret' ballots in the event that the Senate passes this bill?  Do we PM them to the Secretary of Forum Affairs or some other government official as opposed to the current system we have in which we post our ballots in a designated thread open to the entire world?  How does it work?  Take a voter using this new system -what must they do to turn in a secret ballot? 

The text of the bill under consideration can be found here.

[Frodo]

Before voting in this poll, I have one question dealing with practicalities regarding secret ballots -how do we turn in 'secret' ballots in the event that the Senate passes this bill?  Do we PM them to the Secretary of Forum Affairs or some other government official as opposed to the current system we have in which we post our ballots in a designated thread open to the entire world?  How does it work?  Take a voter using this new system -what must they do to turn in a secret ballot? 

The text of the bill under consideration can be found here.

So it is via PM....

Thanks -I skimmed over the bill once before but didn't read it very closely until now.