<b>Secret Ballot</b> is a road movie-style satirical film attempting to examine an aspect of society through a balloting process. Set in a backcountry town of Iran, a female bureaucrat in charge of this town′s voting, makes visits to townspeople, accompanied by a soldier, and encourages them to vote. In the process she encounters various types of individuals. Payami observes the relationship between voting and Iranian society from two different perspectives. One is Iran′s old-fashioned state. While illiteracy and discrimination against women in society is in plain view, this poses questions, such as whether secret balloting constitutes a true form of democracy or whether it can truly contribute to development of society. Then, in the middle of this controversy, an outlook on Islamic religion is also introduced into the mix. Amid the doubts about the usefulness of a balloting process where the townspeople do not even know the identities of the candidates, one old man voices his frustration by stating that "God is the one who improves society, hence I will vote for god". Payami asserts the truth that, no matter how democratic and excellent the system is, it is inappropriate. The disparity between this ideal and the reality is accentuated in the final scene of the film with the female bureaucrat departing on a plane. (Kim Ji-Seok)