Run a fair election

An election has to be fair and has to look fair. These steps get you both.

1. Know who may vote

Make a list of everyone who is eligible. Then choose how they prove it:

• Unique codes keep the vote secret. Nobody, not even you, can see who voted for whom. Best for secret ballots. See Hand out single-use voting codes.
• Email invites with responses limited by Email address are easiest for members you reach by email. See Send personal email invites.

Both make sure each eligible person votes exactly once.

2. Pick a voting method

• Multiple choice for a simple majority.
• Ranked choice voting when there are several candidates and you want to avoid splitting the vote. Voters mark their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice on a ballot grid. If nobody has a majority of 1st choices, the candidate with the fewest is eliminated and those ballots move to their next choice, round by round, until someone has a majority. The results show every round.
• Allow more than one answer when several seats are open, like electing three board members.

Turn on Randomize order so no candidate benefits from being listed first.

3. Set the rules in advance

• Open & close dates give everyone the same voting window.
• Access to results: After the form closes so early results don’t sway later voters.
• Allow changing responses off if votes should be final.
• Show respondent names: Private, for a secret ballot.

4. Test, reset, share

Vote once yourself to check everything, then reset the poll and send out the codes or invites.

5. Announce the result

When the poll closes, results become visible to everyone. Export a CSV for your records.