Progessivism Before the Secret Ballot

Before the secret ballot voting was a very public event. In the 1870's some votings were done by "viva voce" by voice. One by one people would walk up and tell who they wanted to vote for and it would be logged in the poll book. 16% of the presidential election in the 1900s were done in this fashion. Another way voting was done was by a "ticket". Each party would have a decorated ticket that would be taken and put into a box, clear jar, or given to the election clerk. This process was done one-by-one so everyone could see who casted which vote. Where the vote would be deposited or voiced was normally atop a large platform in front of everyone in line. This way of voting though made bribery and threats very common among the men (since women did not have the vote yet). After the secret ballot was put into place and Election Day was less of a social gathering and more solemn and isolated the turnout rate declines dramatically from 80% in 1896 to 65% eight years later. The "no excuse" absentee ballot was also created to lure more people to vote.

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