The Government has divided the Ballot Bill into two. The
first is a Bill to secure secret voting on the plan of last year, without alterations ; and the second is to provide against bribery, treating, personation, and other offences. Mr. Forster, in intro- ducing the former Bill, explained that he had, with great reluct- ance, abandoned the clause throwing the expenses of elections on the rates in deference to the opinion of the House, but had made no other serious changes in the Bill. We presume the calculation is that the House and the Lords will pass the Ballot Bill for political reasons without serious opposition, and will rather endeavour to strengthen than to weaken the Bill against corrupt practices. That would be an excellent result ; but it will be neces- sary to take care that the second Bill does pass, otherwise we shall be landed in a Ballot election with no safeguard at all. At present the Bill seems strong enough, personation being made a mis- demeanour, and the returning officer directed to prosecute at the expense of the county. Every payment, moreover, not included in the return is made a corrupt payment, and candidates are forbidden to hire the public-houses for any electioneering purpose whatever.
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