1819 Oct. 3

Parl Reform Bill

Reasons penult

§.5. Election Apparatus

§ Election how

Art | | Secrecy

1

Question Suffrages why secret?

Reasons

I. Avoidance of Miselection.

By every vote given, a wish is declared: a wish on the part of him who gives it. By every vote given on the Election of a Member of Parliament, the wish declared is – a wish that the person in whose favour it is given, may be the occupant of the seat that is to be filled. In all discussions on this subject, the supposition proceeded upon – is – that the wish so declared is, by the person by whom it is declared really entertained:

{Only on this supposition can the plan /system/ of Election whatever be the occasion, be justified: only on this supposition has it ever, it is believed been attempted to be justified.}

If, in the declared opinion of any person, the person by whom the vote is given is not the person by whose wish, independently of such external influence, the direction given to the vote ought to be determined, it rests in each instance with such person to say what other person is the person by whose wish the vote, ought in his opinion to be determined.