the history of the secret ballot
The secret ballot is also known as the 'Australian ballot', as it was first introduced here. If you grew up in South Australia, Victoria or Tasmania, you may have been taught that your state introduced the secret ballot.
Why the confusion?
Well, the ball starts rolling in 1854 with the Eureka Stockade, where the rebels, after demonstrating their complete lack of patriotism by burning down a pub, demanded the introduction of the secret ballot.
Then in 1856 there is a rush of legislation, followed by elections. Van Diemen's Land is renamed Tasmania on the 1st, with a constitution that had been approved the previous year, but this passed unnoticed until being 'rediscovered' in 2003.
South Australia introduced legislation on the second of January, but it wasn't passed until April 2. Victoria introduced and passed legislation March 19, and held elections on the 5th August; the South Australian election wasn't until the following year.
Tasmania held elections for Launceston on 8th September and Hobart on the 6th October.
So in short:
Tasmania had the first constitution guaranteeing the sectet ballot;
South Australia introduced the first legislation;
Victoria passed the first legislation, and held the first election.
Why the confusion?
Well, the ball starts rolling in 1854 with the Eureka Stockade, where the rebels, after demonstrating their complete lack of patriotism by burning down a pub, demanded the introduction of the secret ballot.
Then in 1856 there is a rush of legislation, followed by elections. Van Diemen's Land is renamed Tasmania on the 1st, with a constitution that had been approved the previous year, but this passed unnoticed until being 'rediscovered' in 2003.
South Australia introduced legislation on the second of January, but it wasn't passed until April 2. Victoria introduced and passed legislation March 19, and held elections on the 5th August; the South Australian election wasn't until the following year.
Tasmania held elections for Launceston on 8th September and Hobart on the 6th October.
So in short:
Tasmania had the first constitution guaranteeing the sectet ballot;
South Australia introduced the first legislation;
Victoria passed the first legislation, and held the first election.