Maine communities that conduct business during town meetings are preparing to move forward with a new format.

In an executive order last week, the governor gave towns the authority to replace their annual town meetings with a secret ballot vote.

At least 350 of Maine’s 487 municipalities conduct business through a town meeting format, Maine Municipal spokesperson Eric Conrad told the Bangor Daily News. Most town meetings are held either in March or in June.

Conrad said the town meeting format is unique, and the secret ballot won’t be the same. “One of the beauties of the classic New England town meeting is there can be deliberation, discussion and compromise,” he said.