1818 April 28 + §.10

Parl. Reform Bill

Reasons

§.8 Election how

Mode of Voting

Reasons

1

1

☞ 12 Oct. 1819. Rewrite this with the text before you.

Question | | Why not admitt of the mode of voting by letter. (a)

Answer. 1. Because in this mode neither secrecy nor thence[?] freedom could be so effectually preserved.

2. Because the timely ascertainment of the number of persons entitled to vote in the several districts, and thence the necessary provision for the receipt of their votes could not so well be made

3. Because if in this case the qualification by past residence were admitted and exacted, there would be but a small number of instances comparatively speaking, in which the demand for the reception /admission/ of this mode of voting would have place

4. Because if either to the exclusion of, or in conjunction with, the qualification by residence qualification by property or by payment of taxes were admitted, a door would be open to { inequality} and disorder /nullity/ by unexpected /and unprovided for/ inundation of votes, in numbers unexpected and unprovided for.

5. Because unless complication delay, vexation and expence in abundance were employed for the exclusion of the inconvenience /evil/, one and the same person might by voting letters sent to different districts, give instead of that single vote which alone is consistent with Equality of Representation, give in one and the same Election an indefinite /unlimited/ number of votes.

Note (a)

(a) In my Plan of Parliamentary in conjunction with the voting by ballot voting by letter was proposed. By a nearer /closer/ view taken of the subject as above after the mode of voting by ballot had been matured, the comparative impropriety of the mode of voting by letter was brought to light as above. See Plan pages 6. 7.