But it appears to me indispensable that
the signature of the elector should be affixed to the paper at a
public polling place, or if there be no such place conveniently
accessible, at some office open to all the world, and in the
presence of a responsible public officer. The proposal which has
been thrown out of allowing the voting papers to be filled up at the
voter's own residence, and sent by the post, or called for by a public
officer, I should regard as fatal. The act would be done in the
absence of the salutary and the presence of all the pernicious
influences. The briber might, in the shelter of privacy, behold with
his own eyes his bargain fulfilled, and the intimidator could see
the extorted obedience rendered irrevocably on the spot; while the
beneficent counter-influence of the presence of those who knew the
voter's real sentiments, and the inspiring effect of the sympathy of
those of his own party or opinion, would be shut out.*
* "This expedient has been recommended, both on the score of saving
expense, and on that of obtaining the votes of many electors who
otherwise would not vote, and who are regarded by the advocates of the
plan as a particularly desirable class of voters. The scheme has
been carried into practice in the election of poor-law guardians,
and its success in that instance is appealed to in favour of
adopting it in the more important case of voting for a member of the
Legislature.
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