secret ballot

A method of voting that ensures that all votes are cast in secret, so that the voter is not influenced by any other individual, and at the time of voting no one else knows who the voter chose. A secret ballot can be ensured in many different ways, primarily by using enclosed voting areas, or simply a place to record your answers that is far enough away from all other voters. Secret ballots are used in virtually all United States Presidential elections, and can also be used in any other voting process where the voters may want to remain anonymous or free from outside influence.