With our lives increasingly shifting online, it’s only logical that voting would transition to a digital platform, too. Although public elections have yet to embrace such methods, many private organizations have eagerly adopted internet voting, enabling them to take advantage of significant benefits. We break down these features and explain their importance:
Accessible & Easy to Use
Online voting is accessible across a variety of devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, making the entire voting process as simple as a click of a button or a tap on a screen. This also means the election can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Gone are the days you spend an entire meeting trying to pick a date when everyone is in town for the election. For example, if members are on vacation, they can simply log into the software and vote while lounging on the beach. This is also extremely beneficial for larger organizations with members living in different parts of the country. It avoids the burden of having to locate and rent out multiple polling sites or pay for a large number of mail ballots. All members can cast their ballot from the comfort of their home during the voting hours.
Secure
Most reputable election vendors equip their software with state-of-the-art security. Common features include single-vote verification, which ensures members don’t inadvertently vote more than once; ballot tracking, which monitors the exact moment a ballot is processed; a secure network to protect the entire process from nominations to tabulation; and secret ballots, which keep ballots private. Some vendors also guarantee they’ll never share member information with any third-party groups.
Accurate
Along with security, accuracy is most likely the top advantage of online voting. A simple miscount of a single vote can mean the wrong candidate wins. Online voting boasts security systems that ensure every vote is counted in real time. Ballot tracking documents click and open rates, and the exact moment a vote is processed. Every step is accounted for and the organization can receive exact results instantaneously. The final tabulation process is also completely auditable, so the accuracy can be double-checked if there are any questions.
Increased Turnout & Engagement
Due to the increased accessibility and ease of use, there’s a higher probability more members will cast their ballots—especially if they can do it from their couch on their smartphone. Plus, many online voting software solutions incorporate social media integration, so your organization can further boost its engagement. After members cast their ballot, a page will pop-up asking them to announce it on a social media platform such as Facebook or LinkedIn. The created post won’t show who they voted for, only that they voted. This may encourage fellow members to participate as well.
Reduced Costs
Switching to online voting can reduce your organization’s costs significantly. It saves you the price of printing and mailing thousands of ballots if you typically opt for mail in ballots. If in-person voting is the norm for your organization, the transition can eliminate the costs of renting a polling location and the printing of all materials used that day. If you’re interested in learning more about how an online election can reduce your costs, read our blog Reduced Election Costs: How Online Voting Saves Money.
For more information about this method of voting, check out our guide Online Voting, Explained. YesElections has years of experience running online elections for small and large private organizations. To learn more about how we can help your organization run a secure, accessible, and more cost-effective online contest, contact us for a free consultation, today.
