Select board members in most towns are now elected by secret ballot, often referred to as an Australian ballot. In 1856 Victoria and South Australia were the first states to introduce a secret ballot, which explains why we call our voting method the Australian ballot. The system spread to Europe and the United States to meet the growing public and parliamentary demand for protection of voters.
From “Your Town Meeting Needs You,” The Hardwick Gazette, January 17, 2024.
