Why is the secret ballot important?

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington said that in cases of speed or secrecy, the Senate should judge whether necessary slowness or openness would be detrimental or dangerous to the Commonwealth. This shows he considered secrecy or openness in proceedings to be important depending on the circumstances, particularly when speed or secrecy was required. "except only in cases of such speed or secrecy, wherin the senat shall judg the necessary slowness or openness of like proceding to be of detriment or danger to the commonwealth." [1]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington said that the use of the ballot, which implies secrecy in voting, is important for the completeness of a commonwealth, though he decided to omit it in his model. He believed that the ballot, while making the commonwealth more complete, rendered it more difficult for readers to understand, and he chose to refer it to practice rather than include it in his writing. "THEY who have interwoven the ballot with the description of a commonwealth, have therby render'd the same by far the more complete in it self; but in the understanding of their readers, as much defective: wherfore presuming the use of the ballot throout the orders of this model, I shall refer it to practice;" [2]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington described voting in Hiera and Emporium as performed by ballot, indicating a preference for secrecy in the voting process. "AS for the manner of elections and suffrage, both in Emporium and Hiera, it may be said once for all, that they are perform'd by ballot" [3]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington said that in cases of speed or secrecy, the senate may judge that necessary slowness or openness in proceeding could be detrimental or dangerous to the commonwealth, implying that secrecy or openness in voting is important depending on the circumstances. "except only in cases of such speed or secrecy, wherein the senate shall judge the necessary slowness, or openness, in this way of proceeding, to be of detriment, or danger unto the commonwealth." [4]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington said that in cases of speed or secrecy, the Senate may judge that the necessary slowness or openness in the process of proposing decisions to the representative of the people could be detrimental or dangerous to the commonwealth. This shows he recognized the importance of secrecy or openness in proceedings when it affects the commonwealth's safety or efficiency. "except only in cases of such speed or secresy, wherin the senat shall judg the necessary slowness or openness in this way of proceding to be of detriment or danger to the commonwealth." [5]
• BELIEF (undated): James Harrington discussed the use of the ballot as a method of election in Israel, which involved a mixture of lot and suffrage. He described the ballot as a means to ensure a more structured and possibly fairer process of election, implying a belief in the importance of secrecy in voting to prevent undue influence. (key quote above) [6]

What cuts against it

• Nothing in the retrieved passages cuts against the answer beyond the ledger entries above.

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. James Harrington believed that the ballot, which implies secrecy in voting, is important for the completeness of a commonwealth.

2. He described the ballot as a method involving a mixture of lot and suffrage, suggesting a structured and fair process.

3. Harrington noted that in cases of speed or secrecy, the Senate should judge whether necessary slowness or openness would be detrimental or dangerous to the Commonwealth.

4. This implies that he recognized the importance of secrecy in voting when it affects the commonwealth's safety or efficiency.

5. However, he also found the ballot difficult to explain in writing, which is an inference from his decision to refer it to practice.

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: PARTIAL

The record is silent on the modern institution of the secret ballot. Harrington discussed the use of the ballot in ancient contexts, particularly in Israel and in his fictional commonwealth of Oceana. He saw it as a method to ensure a more structured and fair process of election, implying a belief in the importance of secrecy in voting to prevent undue influence.

Extrapolation: Harrington likely saw the secret ballot as a means to protect the integrity of the voting process, ensuring that individuals could vote freely without fear of coercion or retribution.

Competing readings: One reading is that Harrington valued the ballot for its completeness in governance, while another is that he found it too complex to explain in writing. The record supports both readings.

Confidence: Moderate, based on the partial coverage and the inferences drawn from his descriptions of the ballot in ancient and fictional contexts.