will insert the name or names which he adopts. The candidates for his particular constituency will be made known to him, as now, by such written or personal addresses as those candidates may think proper to make; and, in addition to that which he has now, he will have a schedule before him,[1] containing the names, not only of the candidates for his own particular constituency, but of the candidates for all the other constituencies in the kingdom. This list it is entirely at the option of the elector to make use of or not; in his determination as to that, he may be guided by his education, by his knowledge, by his opportunities—by the interest which he takes in public matters, in the well-being of his town, or in the welfare of his country. In every step the object of conforming in all respects to the Ballot Act has been kept in view; but in the form of the voting paper some variation from that prescribed in the Act is necessary. It need not, however, impair in any degree that secrecy which is its cardinal purpose. The method here suggested certainly gives scope for the exercise of infinitely more thought and intelligence than there has hitherto been room for in parliamentary or municipal elections, but it leaves the illiterate voter all the facilities he now has; and it is hard upon a self-governing nation to circumscribe the use of the knowledge and discretion of the entire community until all electoral action is reduced to his level. Entering as we have now done on
- ↑ P. 97, ante. In order to show the variety and elasticity of application of which this principle is capable, an alternative may be introduced for the use of voters who, having perfect confidence in one candidate, wish to place their votes at his disposal, if not needed for his own election, or for the election of the other candidate or candidates they have named. A form may be used with this addition—"If this voting paper shall not be appropriated when the names of all the candidates obtaining the quota of votes shall be declared, this vote shall then be recorded in favour of such candidate as the said above named shall signify to the Registrar, as by this Act provided." See p. 189, infra, n. Some may think this open to the danger of consolidating power in single hands; others that it is a wise "revival of authority."
