Although secret voting has been recognized as one of the universal principles of modern election, it has been considered only as a passing moment in the progressive process of political modernization and democratization in the literature.
This study is focusing on the significance and limits of secret/open voting in contemporary democracies. Although secret voting has been recognized as one of the universal principles of modern election, it has been considered only as a passing moment in the progressive process of political modernization and democratization in the literature. Only recently its historical and normative dimensions became the objects of comprehensive researches. John Stuart Mill and the contemporary republican theorists, who were influenced and inspired by him, have been in the critical position against secret ballot as individualization and privatization of public decision-making. This study covers not only the historical dimension from Ancient Greece to 19th century political thought but also normative and institutional cases and issues for the contemporary public deliberation and voting.