[Alberta's Child]

The secret ballot was supposed to eliminate the buying, selling or trading favors for votes.

I'm not so sure about that. I always thought the secret ballot was intended to prevent government officials from retributing against the people who didn't vote for them.

[bankwalker]

I agree with you ...

[hanamizu]

“I always thought the secret ballot was intended to prevent government officials from retributing against the people who didn’t vote for them.”

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Probably not the officials themselves but their agents, the ward heelers. If you promised them your vote, you were expected to deliver it. Accepting favors from them, like say a job or even a shot of whisky, you were expected to vote for the ‘right’ candidate.