a system or occasion of secret voting

Representatives were elected by ballot. 代表们是通过无记名投票选举出来的。

Everyone casts his or her ballot (= votes) in secret. 每个人都以秘密形式无记名投票。

They decided to hold a ballot. 他们决定组织一次无记名投票。

a piece of paper on which you write your vote

to vote secretly on a particular matter

OK, this seems to be an area of disagreement, so let's put it to the ballot. 好吧，看起来这个是争议点，那我们举行无记名投票（来决定）吧。

The council intends to put these proposals to the ballot.

Strike action will be put to the ballot next week.

Changes in the constitution will be discussed and put to the ballot.

I anticipate the council putting the scheme to the ballot in March.

to organize a secret vote by a group of people in order to find out their views

The union decided to ballot its members on the issue. 工会决定让会员就这件事进行无记名投票。