Definition
A voting method that keeps each member's choices anonymous, required for some HOA elections to protect against pressure.
A secret ballot keeps how each member voted anonymous. Some states require secret ballots for certain HOA elections — especially contested board elections or recalls — to protect members from pressure and ensure a fair result.
Achieving true anonymity while still verifying that each voter is eligible and votes once takes careful process (or good software). Secure online voting can preserve ballot secrecy while maintaining a verifiable, tamper-resistant record.