May members of a public board vote by written or secret ballot?
(2004 Sunshine Manual excerpt,Page 72, #6) Board members are not prohibited from using written ballots to cast a vote as long as the votes are made openly at a public meeting, and the ballots are maintained and made available for public inspection in accordance with the Public Records Act. AGO 73-344. By contrast, a secret ballot violates the Sunshine Law. See,AGO 73-264 (members of a personnel board may not vote by secret ballot during a hearing concerning a public employee). Accord, AGOs 72-326 and 71-32 (board may not use secret ballots to elect the chairman and other officers of the board).
