The effect of the secret ballot on voter turnout rates

Heckelman (1995) conjectures that electoral turnout falls as a consequence of the secret ballot.

“Heckelman (1995) conjectures that electoral turnout falls as a consequence of the secret ballot.”

The secret ballot reduces electoral turnout by eliminating the vote market and one reason to vote, as demonstrated by Heckelman (1995).

“The logic behind this hypothesis is, we recall, that the secret ballot, by and large, eliminates the vote market and with it one reason to vote.This reduces electoral turnout, as …rst pointed out and demonstrated empirically by Heckelman (1995).”

In US states, the secret ballot has a significant negative effect on turnout, reproducing Heckelman (1995).

“In column 1, we reproduce Heckelman's (1995) …nding that the secret ballot has a signi…cant, negative e¤ect on turnout, consistent with the hypothesis that before the secret ballot turnout is kept high because of vote buying.”

In some US states, the secret ballot was not initially applied uniformly throughout the entire state.

“In some states, e.g., Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, and Wisconsin, the secret ballot was not initially applied uniformly throughout the entire state and the coding of these cases follow Heckelman (1995).”