Turbulence at election time in Canada East and Canada West begged for electoral reform. Riots and fatalities often occurred; betting happened publicly at open-air polls. Fraud and intimidation were rife. The Reformers were keen to institute practices used in the United States to diminish voting problems. An 1842 election act minimized some problems, but the polls still tended to be overcrowded and prone to violence. In Montreal in particular, riots marred city and federal elections in 1844. By 1846, electoral violence there had become routine. After yet another episode, the Assembly began debating a “bill for establishing vote by ballot at Municipal Elections in Montreal.” Macdonald looked at the issue from another perspective.8
As reported in the Mirror of Parliament of Canada, being the 2nd session of the 2nd Parliament, May 13, 1846:
MR. MACDONALD, Kingston, said if the system of voting by ballot was beneficial to Montreal, it would be equally so in all parts of the Province and in the House. What is the principle which the ballot system advocates? To obtain secrecy of a vote. This he [Macdonald] contended the system would be unable to perform in Canada. The people there had no one exercising an illegitimate influence over them, as in England and other European countries. Every man in Canada would, and did, make public his opinions, and therefore defeated the object of the ballot. By that system the innocent would frequently suffer with guilty. When there were such a connexion of different races, each would be expected to vote for his countryman, and treated accordingly by the party in opposition. In New York the grossest frauds in voting were practised by that system. Should any person be charged of being elected by false votes, it could be examined by the House.