In just a few days America will hold one of the largest and freest expressions of democracy in the history of the world.  An event whose validity and sanctity hinges on anonymity and the absolute prohibition of deliberation.  You go into the polling place, make your statement by voting, then leave.  No discussion, no debate, no responding to other people’s votes and no one observing how you vote.  For all its potential problems, there are few, if any exercises in democracy that will have as many participants engage in the process with a minimum of corruption, coercion, or intimidation.