As I see it, amendment would insure secret-ballot elections
By JOHN LOUDON
From our elections for fifth-grade class president, to the last time we went to the polls, closed the curtain and voted, most of us have assumed that voting by secret ballot in America is a constitutional, God-given right.
It seems so natural in our democracy that most of us believe it has always been that way and always will be.
But neither is the case. And right now, America’s right to a secret ballot is under serious threat, hanging by just a few votes in the U.S. Senate.
That’s why I’m proud to be co-chair of a citizens’ movement called S.O.S. Ballot Missouri — Save Our Secret Ballot in Missouri.
We’re working to give every voter the opportunity to cast a secret ballot, to amend our state constitution to guarantee the right of a secret ballot. The 47-word amendment:
“The right of individuals to vote by secret ballot is fundamental. Where state or federal law requires elections for public office or public votes on initiatives or referenda, or designations or authorizations of employee representation, the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot shall be guaranteed.”
You might think, “Who could be against the secret ballot?”
But a majority in Congress has co-sponsored the Orwellian-named Employee Free Choice Act. It would have the effect of dispensing with secret ballots in elections in which employees decide who will represent them.
In the last Congress, the bill won approval by 244-185 in the House and 51-49 in the Senate, with the co-sponsors including Sen. Claire McCaskill and Missouri Reps. Russ Carnahan, William Clay, Emanuel Cleaver and Ike Skelton.
It failed final passage only because 60 votes were needed in the Senate to end the debate. Now it looks as if that 60-vote threshold may be reached.
Perhaps some need a reminder about why we use a secret ballot in America.
After the Civil War and ratification of the 14th Amendment, the secret ballot was introduced to end the intimidation and coercion of black voters who often feared that voting the “wrong way” on a publicly known ballot could lead to physical harm, even lynching.
The secret ballot has become a hallmark of civil rights in America. And the United States supports secret ballot elections in emerging democracies around the world. How ironic it would be for Congress to continue to call for secret ballot elections in other countries and to continue to use the secret ballot when electing its own leadership, while it votes to curtail secret ballot elections for employees. That’s why the S.O.S. Ballot initiative is so important and why we need to reaffirm the secret ballot in our state constitution. We’re gathering the 151,274 voter signatures needed to ensure we all have a right to vote for its protection. To add your signature, please go to www.sosballot.org/Missouri.
We need a state constitutional amendment to say clearly that in Missouri we will vote by secret ballot. S.O.S. Ballot Missouri gives us that opportunity.
John Loudon is a co-chairman of Save Our Secret Ballot Missouri and a former Missouri state senator. He lives in St. Louis.