Definition
A ballot that lets a member vote without attending the meeting in person, submitted in advance.
An absentee ballot lets a member cast their vote ahead of a meeting without attending in person. Unlike a proxy, which authorizes someone else to vote for them, an absentee ballot records the member's own choices directly.
Absentee and mail-in ballots (and their modern equivalent, secure online voting) raise participation and help communities reach quorum. The governing documents and state law define whether and how they're used.