In the New England colonies the practice of secret voting was in vogue from the very first, and it has now been adopted throughout the United States. It is prevalent also in the self-governing English colonies in Canada and Australia, and in most, if not all, the countries of Europe which have adopted parliamentary institutions - in France, Germany, Italy, etc. While it may with substantial justice be maintained that open voting is theoretically the best at elections of every kind, on the ground that the suffrage being a public trust, it should be openly and manfully exercised with the full sense of responsibility, secret voting is now generally regarded as practically the most satisfactory method. Though it is not a perfect safeguard against bribery and intimidation, it has proved to be very effective. Since its adoption elections have proceeded with greater quietness, order and with comparatively little corruption.

The peculiar system of the secret ballot known as the Australian system took its name from its being practiced first in New South Wales, a prominent Australian colony. Its distinguishing feature is that the names of all candidates are printed on one ticket, and that the voter must cross out the names of all those he does not wish to vote for.

Many of our States have adopted this system of voting, with slight modifications, varying with the different States. Most of them, however, have adopted what is styled the single or "blanket" ballot. All the names in nomination are printed on one sheet, the voter's choice to be indicated by marking. There are two methods used of grouping the names of the candidates. The Australian plan arranges the titles of the offices alphabetically, the names of the candidates and usually their party connection being attached.

The other form groups all names and offices by parties. It is illustrated by the following diagram of a ballot:

Democratic. Republican. Prohibition. People's.

For Governor. For Governor. For Governor. For Governor.

□ John B. Altgeld. □ Joseph W. Fifer. □ R. R. Sink. □ N. M. Barnett.

The voter of a straight ticket marks a cross in the circle at the head of his ticket. The voter who scatters marks the squares opposite the the names of all the candidates on the tickets.