The Electoral Act 1856 was an act of the government of Victoria which introduced voting by secret ballot. The act was passed by a one vote majority on March 13, 1856; it was enacted when it received assent from the Governor of Victoria on March 19 of the same year. The form of the Government of Victoria is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1855, although it has been amended many times since then. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voters choices are confidential. ... // The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of lawmaking by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. ... List of Governors of Victoria See Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Governor. ...

Victorian law was the third of it's kind enacted by a government anywhere in the world. France adopted the secret ballot in the late 18th century. Tasmania adopted the secret ballot second on February 7, 1856. South Australia enacted a similar law two weeks after the Victorian law, on April 2, 1856; led by secret Ballot pioneer and advocate William Boothby. When the practice was adopted in the United States, it was called 'the Australian ballot'.

References

• National Archives of Australia. Documneting Democracy - Electoral Act 1856 (Vic)
• Terry Newman, 'Tasmania and the Secret Ballot' (2003), 49(1) Aust J Pol & Hist 93 [1]