Is the secret ballot acceptable in government?

Question

In South Africa today, Zuma beat a non confidence vote, but the vote was secret ballot (by the representatives) so the party could not put pressure on the reps. But the people will never know if their representative voted for or against non confidence. He won by 198 to 177 with 9 abstentions.(I hope my spelling is right for all these big words )

Answer 1

That vote is problematic for several reasons.

First of all, the people SHOULD know how their representatives voted.

Second, who counted the votes?  Was there a mechanism in place to insure that the count was honest?

Josef Stalin once said, "It doesn't matter how the people vote, what matters is who counts the votes," or words to that effect.

Comments

I am sure the mechanism was in place to insure the count was honest. But is it fair for the party to put pressure on the members to vote the party line, if the members are trying to do the best for the people they represent?

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They had an excellent counting system!

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Yeah, with only about 400 ballots, they could pin them on a board so all could see them.

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@ Korvo,

No, it isn't fair, but presumably if the reps bow to the party-line pressure, and vote against their constituents' wishes, they might get voted out of office, which will cost the party.

Answer 2

Such voting systems are always two-edged swords, and there are as many "pros" as "cons":

https://www.enca.com/south-africa/how-a-secret-ballot-works-in-a-no-confidence-motion

http://www.nnsl.com/frames/newspapers/2015-11/nov30_15v.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/08/jacob-zuma-survives-no-confidence-vote-south-african-president

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_South_Africa

Comments

That's what I thought, and was the basis for my question. What other people think of that system. Thanks for your input

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Yes, Korvo - it depends on the circumstances; in many democracies, the secrecy of the votes allows the citizens to make their choices anonymously, to protect their privacy - and their safety.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_ballot

(The Old Romans used already secret ballots.)

Depending on state systems, situations, societies, cultures, religions, legislations, etc., democracy indexes, voting and voting methods can vary:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index

Voting and voting methods:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_methods_in_deliberative_assemblies

Answer 3

I would say the secret ballot in government is not acceptable.

Comments

Why, because you cannot tell how your rep voted, or because the party cannot tell how your rep voted?

Thank you for your input.

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Korvo, I answered cautiously because idk, there may be a valid reason for that secret ballot...but I think, as a general rule, the electorate should be entitled to know how their representative voted, whom they elected.

Do you have any further information, or, what is your opinion?

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I am torn both ways. Partly because I am against any party system. In the North West Territories here in Canada, they use a consensus system. I feel this is the best way to govern with the people coming first.

http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/visitors/what-consensus

There are discussions rather than debates. (Debates.. one side wins, one loses) (Discussion.. one side presents its ideas, the other presents their ideas, and a compromise is worked out.. everyone wins)

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Korvo, that link is very intriguing; I did not know that was happening in the Canadian Northwest Territories. May I have your permission to post a question about consensus government on I HAVE SOLVED, to ask for the input of others on here?

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You do not need my permission to post a question on here.   Sure, post it.