Running a digital election doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools and preparation, your cooperative can conduct smooth, secure, and high-turnout elections—without printing a single ballot. Whether it’s your first online vote or your fiftieth, this BallotPartner election checklist will keep you on track.

📝 1. Set Clear Voting Dates Early

Announce the election timeline at least 4–6 weeks in advance. This gives members time to prepare, nominate, and get familiar with the process.

Pro Tip: Add a countdown timer to your BallotPartner voter page to build anticipation.

🧑‍💻 2. Test Your Ballot Before You Launch

Double-check:

• Candidate names and bios
• Voting logic (e.g., ranked choice, multiple selections)
• Bylaw or referendum wording
• Mobile responsiveness

BallotPartner lets you preview the entire voting experience before members ever see it.

📣 3. Promote the Election in Multiple Channels

Use your website, email list, newsletters, bulletin boards, and social media. The more reminders, the better.

SEO Tip: Use keywords like “vote online,” “digital ballot,” and “secure co-op election” in all promotional content to improve visibility and engagement.

🗳️ 4. Make Voting Simple and Inclusive

With BallotPartner:

• No logins or passwords are needed
• Voters can click a link or scan a QR code
• Language support ensures wider accessibility

Consider offering ballots in English, Tagalog, and Spanish to reflect your member base.

🔐 5. Protect the Integrity of the Vote

BallotPartner uses:

• End-to-end encryption
• Anonymous ballot separation
• Verifiable audit logs

This ensures every vote is counted fairly—and seen as trustworthy by your members.

📊 6. Track and Improve Turnout in Real Time

Use the BallotPartner dashboard to:

• Monitor turnout by hour or region
• Send last-minute reminders
• Identify which voter groups are lagging behind

Data makes every election smarter than the last.

📈 Insight: Why More Co-ops Are Going Digital in 2025

From food co-ops to housing communities, digital voting is becoming the norm. In a recent survey of BallotPartner clients:

• 92% reported higher turnout with online ballots
• 84% said digital elections saved them time and money
• 79% saw increased member satisfaction

“It used to take us two weeks to count votes. Now it’s done in ten minutes—with full transparency.”
— Election Manager, Sunshine Housing Co-op

📰 In the News: Co-ops Using Tech to Deepen Member Engagement

Digital democracy isn’t just about convenience—it’s about access, equity, and participation. BallotPartner is proud to support cooperatives that:

• Hold monthly member surveys using secure polls
• Elect sub-committees online for faster decision-making
• Use data dashboards to keep their governance agile and transparent

🧠 Quick Tips for Your Next Vote

• 💡 Include a “Why This Matters” section before each bylaw amendment
• 📹 Ask candidates to submit 60-second video pitches to humanize the process
• 🎯 Use post-election surveys to learn how to improve next time

Closing Thought: Voting Is the Heartbeat of Your Cooperative

The tools you use to run your election send a message. Are you showing your members that their voices matter? That their vote is secure, their time respected, and their input valued?

With BallotPartner, you’re not just holding an election. You’re strengthening your co-op’s culture of trust, participation, and progress.