For SEASONED VOTERS: Why should you,"NEVER tell anyone who you vote for?”?

I wasn't around in the 70's, but my Parents had the same view, but not in a serious way, they'd just say "I can't tell you that! I'm not supposed to." I would suspect the cold war had something to do with it. In Russia you had the right to vote, but soldiers would watch you vote, and if you voted against the leader at that time... well you likely got thrown into a labor camp, hearing those stories may have made Americans from that generation more likely to cherish the secrecy part of the ballot.

My mom is the same way, and so was my dad. To this day I still have no idea who they voted for in any election, although they have said complimentary things about every president we've had. I was talking to my mom (she's 63) a couple of weeks ago, and she told me she has already decided who's she's going to vote for but would not say who it is. So I'm guessing this is still common among older voters.

I blab my voting preferences online where I don't know anyone, but I am much more reticent in talking about it to friends and family. Partly because I'm betting they don't vote the same way I do, and I don't want to get into an argument about it.

Very good question.I vaguely recall my grandparents having a similar belief.I'm 41 so I couldn't vote in the 70s but the thinking was still prevalent.I think if one wishes to keep their vote private by all means they should.But I also believe that if one wants to take a stand for or against something they need to be open about why.I haven't always voiced my opinion when it comes to politics,certainly in business it would be unwise,as I may alienate a customer.I don't put stickers on my car and I don't have a yard sign.But if anyone asks me who I support I will not hesitate in telling them,and if pressed will give them a direct answer.I think having dialog is a good thing and i respect the opinions of everyone,hopefully they respect mine as well.Will I try to persuade someone to come to my side...sure.But I also try to keep an open mind so that should they present a valid argument I can also be persuaded.

Did not tell who they voted for, didn't talk casually about what went on "behind closed doors", didn't ask question on yahoo answers?

all we had were party lines... lol

yes i expect wifes didn't say especially if they voted against their husbands?

But then came The Jerry Springer show where you can talk about all your private matters in front of millions of viewers...

lol..

i don't know. I was too busy playing outside.

Is it common today? well if you tell me who you voted for i may answer....

Some people won't tell people who they vote for because if they are voting for a different candidate, then they don't want to alienate people. Before Barack Obama, Oprah would never say who she is voting for. She didn't want to lose audience members. It is unpleasant to hear that someone is voting for someone other than who you are voting for.

Because it's private. Voting is by secret ballot...it's nobody's business.

That's why polls are irrelevant. A voter can say anything to a pollster but nobody knows what goes on behind that curtain.

It's what protects our freedoms and our election process.

I'd imagine voting during the McCarthly era was what brought this about. American citizens had to keep their political thoughts and desires hidden so that they would not be falsely accused of being spies or communists.

I've always wondered about this, I look forward to seeing some explanations.