N ovember 8 2016 is a big day in the United States: Election Day an event that only happens once every four years. Millions of Americans from New York to California and Alaska to Florida will cast their vote for president of the United States as well as governors senators congressmen and local leaders. (If “millions” is too vague for you then okay in 2012 exactly 129 085 403 votes were cast for president.)">

Voting has really changed over the years from a simple show of hands to the computerized systems we have nowadays. You may be too young to vote but this article will give you a glimpse of what your parents will be doing behind that curtain in the voting booth. Older readers might learn something too…

Why All the Secrecy?

Well yes sometimes they are. Like if they told their friends they’d vote for a different candidate. Or if they voted according to racial or religious prejudice. But the main reason isn’t shame; it’s fear. ">

Until 1888 Americans voted openly. In some places they even announced their choices out loud. As a result in those pre-curtain days everybody knew who everyone was voting for and this led to people being bribed or threatened to vote a certain way — “or else.” Crooked politicians or gangsters would watch to make sure people voted “the right way.” ">

In 1888 Louisville Kentucky adopted a secret ballot. They called it “the Australian ballot” because Australia had it first. By 1892 it had become standard procedure all over the United States. A person marked a box next to a candidate’s name on a card and dropped it into a sealed box so nobody would know how he voted. ">

Ballot Problem