Sacramento Business Daily

Is there anything in the Constitution that guarantees a secret ballot during elections?

I was just wondering if there was anything in the Constitution that guarantees a secret ballot so I can refer to the document, or a law. Especially now during the election I am being asked by many people who I am voting for, and prefer to be quiet. I know in school they taught it, and the voting booths are secret, but I just am not sure if its guaranteed by law. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. No, but thank God they do it that way. Otherwise, whoever held the biggest gun would win every time!
2. There's nothing specific in the Constitution that I am aware of. Secret ballot voting is dictated by individual states. The process began in 1884 but it took several years before every state adopted it.
3. Tell them it is none of their business, if they persist simply do not answer them.
4. The Democrats are pushing to ensure that votes to bring in a union are no longer private, so I guess the general elections will not be far behind. http://www.heritage.org/Research/Labor/bg2027.cfm
5. You might be interested in this story: Colorado Clerk forbids voting by secret ballot http://www.bbvforums.org/cgi-bin/forums/board-auth.cgi?file=/1954/76157.html
6. We are guaranteed elections in the Constitution of the United States and each Secretary of State is duty bound to make this happen and the Governors are to designate funds for these elections to the Secretary of State and Election Officials, and we vote in booths which is private during our primary elections, privacy of the ballot is really not an issue during the General Election because our General Election is 'open ballot' using one ballot with all candidates on one ballot and anyone can vote the way they want.