What counts as a secret ballot for parent governor elections?

Legal requirement for secret ballot

The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools Regulations 2017 requires that where a ballot is held for parent governor election, it must be by secret ballot. This is a non-negotiable requirement.

The purpose of the secret ballot is to protect parents from pressure or coercion in how they vote, and to ensure votes reflect genuine preferences rather than social pressure.

Maintaining secrecy with paper ballots

For paper-based elections, maintaining ballot secrecy requires careful procedures:

• Ballot papers must not have any marks that could identify the voter
• Ballots should be returned in sealed envelopes
• The outer envelope may identify the parent for eligibility verification
• Envelopes should be opened and eligibility checked before removing ballots
• Ballots should be mixed together before counting
• Counting should take place with witnesses present

Maintaining secrecy with online voting

Online voting systems maintain ballot secrecy through technical design:

• Voter authentication confirms the parent is eligible
• Once authenticated, the system records the vote separately
• No link is stored between the voter identity and the actual vote
• The system records who has voted to prevent double voting
• Audit trails show the process was followed without revealing individual votes

Common mistakes to avoid

Mistakes that can compromise ballot secrecy include:

• Numbered ballot papers that can be traced back to individuals
• Asking parents to include their name on the ballot
• Opening ballots as they arrive rather than all together
• Allowing anyone to observe which ballot came from which envelope
• Using online systems that store votes linked to voter accounts
• Publishing results that reveal how small groups voted