LETTERS Secret ballot
Sir: Asian relations in ballot boxes (Let- ters, 11 November) are misinterpreting the liberties afforded by our gentle democracy. But whilst Mr Childs makes a sound case for relative secrecy at the box, the electoral ballot itself escapes mention. I was sur- prised to find it not quite as secret as had been presumed.
The voter gives his or her name to the returning officer or clerk, who ticks the name off the computer printout of the `electoral roll'. The number printed next to the name on the roll is then written on the stub of a ballot paper. A second reference number already exists on both the stub and the paper itself, as on a raffle ticket. The paper is torn off and given to the voter to complete and post in the box.
Votes cast by names may thus be known, by comparison of papers, stubs and roll. The record is a protection against unscru- pulous voters and as such is presumably kept for quite a long time. Strict controls currently exist to deny unauthorised peo- ple access. Secrecy remains relative.
Christopher Marsh
10 Chapel Street, London SW1
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