Correct answer: A. It protects voters from pressure
Explanation: Direct answer: Option A, it protects voters from pressure. Democracy means that eligible people should choose their representatives freely. In a secret ballot, nobody can see the particular choice marked by a voter. Therefore, a voter is less afraid of a landlord, employer, family member, local leader, candidate, or government official. The reasoning is: secret choice means less fear; less fear allows an independent choice; an independent choice supports a free election. Option A is correct because it directly protects the voter’s freedom. Option B is wrong because secret voting does not strengthen a king; democracy is based on elected representatives, not hereditary kingship. Option C is wrong because secrecy does not remove voting rights; the voter still has the right to vote. Option D is wrong because secrecy does not stop opposition; it protects supporters of every party equally. Memory cue: secret ballot means “my vote, my privacy, my free choice.”