Progressive Movement Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The implementation of secret ballots significantly contributed to reducing corruption in voting practices by ensuring that voters could make their choices privately, without fear of intimidation or coercion. Prior to the introduction of secret ballots, voting was often public, leading to various forms of corruption, such as vote buying, voter intimidation, and manipulation by powerful interests. With a secret ballot, individuals could cast their votes without external pressures, resulting in a more honest and democratic electoral process.

Other reforms, while impactful in their own right, do not directly address the immediate issue of minimizing corruption related to voter behavior at the polls. For instance, the establishment of the Electoral College organizes the process of electing a president but does not inherently alter the conditions under which individual citizens vote. Similarly, voter ID laws are intended to prevent fraud but can sometimes introduce other challenges, such as disenfranchisement. The direct election of senators improved democratic representation but primarily pertains to legislative elections rather than the voting process itself. Thus, the implementation of secret ballots stands out as a key reform aimed explicitly at combatting corruption in voting.