ONCE again an election is upon us, this time a referendum. I wonder if it will be a secret ballot? Or will it be the same as all previous elections - each ballot paper bearing the same serial number (on the reverse) as appears on the stub or counterfoils from which it was torn, and on which the polling clerk writes the elector's reference number from the electoral roll, neatly tying that name and address to that ballot paper?

After an election in the UK, it is possible to ascertain the name of the voter concerned for every ballot paper placed in the box.

No Constitution, no Bill of Rights, nor even a secret ballot. ''Subjects'' remains a more apt word than ''citizens''. And we have the effrontery to tell other nations how to run their affairs!

Charles F Young,

22 Violet Gardens, Carluke.

August 26.