Here’s a question for you folks. Why isn’t the election of the speaker done by secret ballot. The congress is fully capable of making its own election rules in this regard. I think the answer should be perfectly obvious.
What is perfectly obvious to you?
IMO, it is simply a ceremonial event, after each party has determined in private who its candidate is, with a preordained and obvious outcome.
It appears to be on a par with the Joint Session of Congress wherein it is determined whether the results of the presidential election are without error, after a call for objections by the reps of each state.
I.e, it appears to be more of a social event than a serious political exercise.