The names of all candidates for each office are grouped on the same ballot and the voter indicates his choice by marking an x for each candidate he or she favors. Under this system, the ballots were printed at public expense by the officials charged with the conduct of elections. The Australian ballot was introduced in this country in 1888. Frequently printed on colored paper, it was readily possible to determine which ballot the voter selected. Each party or faction distributed its own ballot among the voters. In these early days, little secrecy was afforded the voter in marking his or her ballot. A few years later the Colony of Massachusetts adopted this method to elect civil magistrates. It was not until 1872 that secret voting for elected officials was adopted (in England). The opposition termed it "the deadly mischief of making numbers the sole test of public opinion." The first record of the use of the secret ballot in America was in 1629 when the members of the Salem church chose their pastor. the first written ballot was used in Rome. These were forerunners of today's elections with voting machines. The little balls could have been white in color for an affirmative vote or black for a negative vote. From there came the term blackballed that is still used today to describe rejection. Another means used consisted of placing a pebble or little ball in an urn, hence the word ballot from the Italian ballotta, meaning little ball. The ancient Greeks voted by acclamation, by division into groups or by balloting with shells and bronze disks of different sizes. The secretary of state publishes the Louisiana Roster of Officials, the Louisiana Election Code with all of Louisiana's elections statutes, and the Election Returns Books that contain precinct-by-precinct returns for all presidential and gubernatorial elections.įor more information on the specific duties of election officials, review Election Officials Duties.įor many centuries, people have sought a simple, quick and accurate way of expressing and recording their wishes. compiling, reporting and maintaining official elections returns and statistics.Īlso, the governor issues and the secretary of state countersigns the official commission that entitles elected or appointed officials to hold office.election night tally and transmission of results.statewide support of administering elections during early voting and on election day.printing and distributing absentee paper ballots.programming all equipment with election specific information and delivering and testing on all equipment statewide.purchasing and maintaining absentee, early voting and election day voting equipment.scheduling elections and qualifying candidates for elections.maintaining the statewide voter registration system.administering all laws governing voter registration and elections.The Secretary of State's Elections Division is responsible for:
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