- TalkBack 2 of 7:
- Next »
- « Previous
- Thread View
- Flat View
- Secret voting is civics 101
-
Without secret voting, democracy is fundamentally impossible.
The votes we, the public, cast must be secret for the same reason that the votes of your Congressperson need to be public: when your voting record is known, you can be punished for voting "the wrong way."
That is the way it is supposed to be for a Congressperson; Congresspeople work for us, and if they don't vote the right way, we can vote them out.
But if the government was able to determine your vote, they could do the same thing: punish you for voting the wrong way.
That was what happened during the "elections" in East Germany, the Soviet Union, Iraq, and many other places, and non-secret voting is the reason that, for instance, Saddam was routinely reelected with 99% majorities.
There are also less obvious ways a non-secret ballot can be abused. Imagine a party paying every voter $100 as long as they can prove they voted for their candidate.
Also, "know only with your consent" is not enough. The government already routinely exempts itself from such consent requirements (warrantless wiretaps, anyone). It must be fundamentally impossible to find out who cast any particular vote.
Voting for a board of directors? That's not a truly democratic election for various reasons. Public voting is less of a problem there. - Posted by: sdgeek Posted on: 08/20/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What do you think?
SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads
- Virtualization: Architectural Considerations And Other Evaluation Criteria VMware Of the many approaches to x86 systems virtualization available in the ... Download Now
- Three Steps You Need to Know to Stop Data Loss Varonis Sensitive data exposed to misuse or loss... it is the stuff of nightmares ... Download Now
- Five Steps to Determine When to Virtualize YourServers VMware Server virtualization isn't just for big companies. Entry-level ... Download Now
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Save time with automated shipping solutions
-
The Business Essentials Guide provides you useful tools and templates to help grow your business and save you time with automated shipping solutions.
- Visit the UPS Business Essentials Guide
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Free Six-Month Trial for Eligible Organizations
-
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides fast online access, simple contact management and better sales performance for a low monthly cost - the best value on the market today.

- Learn more about the free, six-month trial offer>>
- The best support in the Linux business
-
If Linux is going to power your mission-critical applications, you'd better have the best support known to business. Novell was rated the top provider of Linux technical support.

- Learn more >>
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
- How to Drive Better Business Outcomes with Exceptional Web Experiences Download the eBook
- Driving Business Agility through SOA Connectivity & Integration Read the White Paper from IBM
- Linking Decisions and Information for Organizational Performance Read the Tom Davenport study







