>>>I would have a real problem voting in a traceable way. While the law might prohibit that information from being disclosed and used, we know that in reality there are people who cheat. I'm entitled to be the only one who knows who I voted for.
>>
>>Even if it's up to you to disclose? Remember that the voters in question in this scenario have already publicly disclosed that they meant to vote for Gore.
>
>I often disclose how I vote. But a traceable ballot means that someone else can disclose how I voted. No way.
>
>Tamar

I hate to reply to myself < g >, but it's easier than finding the message that I replied to.

I couldn't let this secret ballot thing rest. I found a site that has links to all the state constitutions. In a not-really random sampling (I started at the top and did a few, then checked some key states), I find that most states include the right to secret ballot in their constitutions. In one case (Alabama), the format made it too hard to find anything on the subject. Texas stands out as the only one I checked that specifically calls for identification on the ballot.

IAC, if anyone wants to go digging, here's the site: http://www.law.cornell.edu/statutes.html

Good words to search for, once you get to the individual Constitution include "secret" and "secrecy."

If I had more time and ambition (or the things were all laid out the same), I'd figure out how many of the 50 have that provision.

Tamar