William Boothby

William Robinson Boothby CMG (26 September 1829 – 12 July 1903) was Electoral Commissioner for South Australia, in charge of every parliamentary election from 1856 to 1903.

William was born at Nottingham, England, and emigrated to Australia with his parents during 1853 In 1854, he was appointed as Deputy-Sheriff and its electoral officer for the colony, and he was promoted to Sheriff during 1856 He prepared the clauses of the South Australian Act of 1856 that instituted voting by ballot and those of the Act of 1858 that provided for the placing of a cross against the name of the favoured candidate.

In a manner similar to that still used widely today, the voter marked the form in secret and placed it in a sealed box.

On 2 April 1856, South Australia enacted a law introducing the secret ballot, which had been adopted two weeks earlier in Victoria.

Voters assembled at local election centres where they called out the name of their chosen candidate, and the choice was then entered on a register.