Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Ballot
If the voting tablet is pleasing to the people, which holds up to view the countenance, while it conceals the intentions, and gives a man liberty to do what he wishes, but to promise what is asked of him; why do you wish that to be used in a court of justice which is not done at the comitia?
Cicero.—Cn. Planc. 6. (The comitia in ancient Rome were assemblies of the people.)
I am of the same opinion as you have always been, that open viva voce voting is the best method at elections.
Cicero.—De Legibus, 3, 15.
The noise and jollity of a ballot mob must be such as the very devils would look on with delight—a set of deceitful wretches—a wholesale bacchanalian fraud—a posse comitatus of liars.
The Rev. Sidney Smith. Wit and Wisdom. 3rd Ed., p. 205. (Longman.)