A: This is an excellent question, James. RONR does not mention how it is to be verified that a member voted on the prevailing side (or, in standing and special committees, that he voted on the prevailing side or not at all); nor is it mentioned how another member would challenge a member's claim to having so voted.

Henry Martyn Robert wrote another book, Parliamentary Law, in which he discusses some of the principles involved in Robert's Rules of Order. In P.L., "Question 19" asks whether Reconsider can be applied to a motion decided by secret ballot. HMR replies that it can, and that the member making the motion must state that he voted on the prevailing side. In other words, that he is to be taken at his word.

Another point HMR makes is that the vote on whether to reconsider a motion decided by ballot must itself be taken by ballot in order to preserve the secrecy of the vote being reconsidered.

Also note that, unlike RONR, many other parliamentary authorities allow Reconsider to be moved by any member, regardless of which side he voted on. Apparently (although I cannot cite the references), the courts have agreed with this position.