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Tasmania and the Secret Ballot
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 14:48 authored by Newman, TEncyclopaedias and handbooks, etc, all present Tasmania's starting date for implementing the secret ballot as 1858. But this research note argues the correct date was two years earlier in 1856. Moreover, before this, Tasmania's early 1830s participation in the Australia–wide proballot campaign, and its Constitutional inclinations towards the ballot have also been overlooked. To correct this omission relevant background is presented which highlights the riotous behaviour of pre–ballot elections. This is followed by a summary concerning the ballot's starting dates for Victoria and South Australia. Having confirmed these basic facts, further evidence is presented regarding Tasmania's true application of the secret ballot, including citations from a rare copy of the state's 1856 Electoral Act. In short, this "rediscovery" means that Tasmania definitely deserves a new place in the history of Australia's famous democratic innovation.
History
Publication title
Australian Journal of Politics and HistoryVolume
49Pagination
93-101ISSN
0004-9522Department/School
School of Social SciencesPublisher
Blackwell PublishingPlace of publication
AustraliaRights statement
The definitive published version is available online at: http://interscience.wiley.comRepository Status
- Restricted