WhyNot?

Secret Ballots

Category: Improved Voting
Responses: 5 (2 in support, 1 neutral, 2 in opposition)
Number of views: 317
Tracking: Track this idea
Community Rating:Average AverageYour Rating:

Everybody loves their congressman, but hates congress. Why is that? It's partly because our individual representatives protect our regional interests, while congress as a whole can't "get the job done". But what's more important?

If the congressional record did not keep track of how each representative voted, then no one congressman could hide behind their voting record. And if it happened in secret, then who would know how any congressman voted?

Additionally, if this idea were to include committees and sub-committees, then special interest dollars would lose some of their power.

Making all legislative voting via secret ballot could perhaps change the status quo to one of collaboration and accomplishment. Or not.

jeffriddell, Dec 12 2003

What do you think of this idea or comment?
(You can change your vote at any time)

agree I agree no opinion No opinion disagree I disagree

Users who liked this idea also liked:

Better Brake Light (360 votes) Very strong
Audio-in Jacks in Cars (154 votes) Very strong
GPS and Digital Photos (144 votes) Very strong
Elevator DeSelect (133 votes) Very strong
Airport charity (132 votes) Very strong
This concept is great! (116 votes) Very strong
Attachment Notation (124 votes) Very strong
Refrigerator (92 votes) Very strong
Receiving Pre-Delivery emails (79 votes) Very strong
Cable TV (92 votes) Very strong

Other ideas in category (Improved Voting):

Comments from other members:

Add your comment

If representavives' votes were secret, they would be completely unaccountable to their constituents. Pork barrel products for constituents would dry up, it is true, but so would legitimate appropriations and laws for the public good. Special interests would not lose power, they would gain influence at the expense of the general interest. Noone would have any idea whether or not their representative voted to give billions of dollars to God knows who.

eastriver, Dec 19 2003