1893•The American Law Register and ReviewRequires access
American Secret Ballot Decisions
Charles Chauncey Binney
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Abstract
THAT the ballot, which for years has been used in every election district in this country, except for general elections in Kentucky, was employed in order to secure secrecy, and that its use implied secrecy, has been repeatedly decided by our courts, 2 while the benefit which this secrecy conferred upon the individual voter and the community at large has often been dwelt upon by text-writers. 3 The theory of the old form of ballot was that the voter prepared or By the new constitution of Kentucky viva voce voting at general elections is abolished, and all elections are by ballot.It is in curious contrast to the conservatism which retained viva voce voting for so long that the first American secret ballot law, a very effective adaptation of the Australian system, was the Louisville election law of February 24, 1883, under which the first American election by secret ballot took place