<P> Before 1890 , partisan newspapers printed filled - out ballots which party workers distributed on election day so voters could drop them directly into the boxes . All of the states replaced these with secret ballots around 1890 , popularly called `` Australian ballots . '' They were printed by the local government and listed all the candidates impartially . </P>
<P> Before 1890 , partisan newspapers printed filled - out ballots which party workers distributed on election day so voters could drop them directly into the boxes . All of the states replaced these with secret ballots around 1890 , popularly called `` Australian ballots . '' They were printed by the local government and listed all the candidates impartially . </P>
when did the secret ballot start in america
when did the secret ballot start in america
1890
1890