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Month: February 2025

Case Study: Celebration Residential Owners Association

Posted on by Clémence Campillo

The Celebration Residential Owners Association (CROA) serves a large community of approximately 4,300 homes, with over 10,000 residents in Celebration, Florida. Since 2011, CROA has utilized Simply Voting for their Board of Director elections and occasional special votes.

CROA had several requirements regarding their elections:

  • A self-service online voting portal that would allow them to manage all their elections easily and efficiently;
  • A user-friendly voting system that would make online voting accessible and convenient for all electors in order to increase participation and accessibility;
  • A cost-effective solution that covered their efficiency and security requirements.

Simply Voting’ solution:

Simply Voting offers a secure, user friendly and cost-effective voting platform that allows election organizers to run self-managed elections using our easy-to-use election manager.

In addition to the standard features offered in all elections, Simply Voting offers other product features to fit more specific requirements:

  • Manual vote entry

With the Manual Vote Entry tool, election administrators can convert a physical paper ballot into a digital record, thus allowing tabulating of paper ballots alongside online collected ballots.

Election administrators identify the voter associated with a paper ballot and then enter their choices into the Simply Voting system. The final results will note how many votes were manually input by administrators, and how many votes were marked as spoiled by administrators.

  • Weighted voting

Weighted voting allows election organizers to assign each voter a vote weight that will be applied once their ballot is cast. The final results will take into account vote weight, and note how much vote weight was cast in total as well.

For example, an HOA could assign a different weight to their electors depending on the number of units they own.

  • Candidate withdrawals

From time to time, election organizers may encounter the need to withdraw one or more candidates from the ballot. We offer the capability to mark those candidates as withdrawn on the ballot.

When a candidate is withdrawn from an active election, their name is struck through on the ballot, and the word WITHDRAWN is displayed in bold red type next to their name. Electors will still be able to vote for the withdrawn candidate if they wish to do so.

  • Vote confirmation emails

We offer the ability to send a confirmation email once an elector had voted to confirm them that their vote was recorded.

The results:

Opting for a self-serve approach, the Celebration Residential Owners Association found the Simply Voting administrative portal user-friendly and efficient for managing elections, in addition to being cost-effective.

By introducing online voting, CROA aimed to enhance convenience to voters, and therefore increase overall voter turnout. Over the years, online voter turnout has steadily grown, from 9% in 2011 to 35% for the 2024 board elections, with participation reaching as high as 55% for special referendums of high interest.

Looking to run an election for your HOA?

If online voting is permitted in your state, feel free to reach out to us. We will be happy to provide a solution tailored to meet your requirements.

Cumulative Voting: Empowering Shareholders in the Election Process

Posted on by Clémence Campillo

Cumulative voting is a type of voting system that allows electors to allocate their votes in a flexible manner during an election. Voters are given a certain number of votes to allocate for a specific position, they can then distribute these votes among the candidates however they’d like.

This method can be particularly useful for corporate elections where shareholders are voting.

Let’s see how cumulative voting operates, how results are calculated and why it’s an ideal system to enhance shareholder representation.

What is cumulative voting?

Unlike traditional voting methods where each voter casts one vote per candidate, cumulative voting allows voters to assign a given number of votes (or points) across various candidates in an election. The number of votes is based on the shareholding of the elector.

For example, if a shareholder owns 12 shares, they would be granted 12 votes to distribute as they see fit. If there are 5 candidates, that elector can choose to:

  • Assign all 12 votes to 1 candidate
  • Allocate votes in any combination that’s fits their preference.

This flexibility ensure that shareholders can strategically support candidates who aligns with the values and goals.

The election organizer can decide whether voters must allocate all of their votes of if they can choose to allocate fewer votes than the total amount allowed.

Cumulative Voting: Empowering Shareholders

Calculating results in Cumulative Voting

Once all the votes are cast, the next step is to calculate the results. Here is how it works:

  • One seat election: After votes are cast, a vote counting algorithm tallies to total number of votes allocated to each candidate. The candidate with the most votes wins.
  • Multi-seat election: In the case where multiple positions are up for election (such as electing several board members), the candidate with the highest percentage of vote will win the first seat, the second highest percentage will win the second seat and so on until all the positions are filed.

Why should you use Cumulative Voting for your shareholder election?

There are several advantages to using cumulative voting for shareholders elections:

  • Increased influence of minority shareholders

Cumulative voting particularity benefits minority shareholders by allowing them to concentrate their votes on one candidate, increasing their influence despite owning fewer shares. If multiple minority shareholders allocate all their votes to the same candidate together, it gives them more power to influence the outcome of the vote.

Because of this increased influence, minority shareholders are more likely to engage in the voting process and feel like their votes matter. This leads to better participation and a stronger sense of ownership.

  • More flexible voting

Voters have more control over how they allocate their votes. They can support a single candidate of spread their votes across multiple candidates. This flexibly allows more thoughtful voting and better representation.

How to run a cumulative election?

If you have looking to implement cumulative voting for your next election, Simply Voting offers and easy to use platform that allows cumulative voting and ensures security and transparency throughout the process.

To learn more about how cumulative voting works and how to setup your election, check-out our step-by step guide.

Get started with cumulative voting today, create your free online voting tool here!

5 Things You Might Not Think of When Preparing for Online Voting

Posted on by Clémence Campillo

In the world of elections, online voting stands out as a convenient and efficient option for various organizations, including homeowners’ associations, unions, sport clubs, political parties and corporate entities. Ensuring a smooth and fair online voting process requires careful planning and consideration of several essential factors. Here’s 5 things you may overlook when preparing for online voting:

1. Check Your Bylaws and Regulations

Before diving into online voting, it’s crucial to review your organization’s bylaws. These often outline specific requirements for conducting elections, including rules on voting procedures and eligibility criteria. Additionally, consider if there are any regulatory bodies or governmental entities that prescribe rules for elections in your jurisdiction. Adhering to these guidelines ensures your election is legal and trusted by everyone.

2. Educate Stakeholders to Online Voting

Introducing online voting requires buy-in from all stakeholders. Educating members, shareholders, or residents about the process and its benefits can avoid concerns and build confidence in the system. Clearly communicate how the online voting platform works, the security measures in place, and the timeline for the election. 

3. Plan Voter Assistance

Not everyone may be familiar with online platforms or comfortable navigating digital interfaces. Planning for voter assistance is essential to ensure inclusivity and accessibility. Consider offering technical support for those who may encounter difficulties when casting their vote online. Providing clear instructions and troubleshooting tips can enhance the voting experience for all participants.

Additionally, maintaining clean and up-to-date voter records is crucial in minimizing potential issues. Ensuring accurate data helps prevent access difficulties, reduces errors, and streamlines the voting process for a smoother experience overall.

4. Define Ballot Details

The ballot itself is at the heart of any election. Decide upfront on key details such as:

  • Abstention: Will voters have the option to abstain from voting on certain issues?
  • Required Documents: Will you need to include any documentation to the ballot?
  • Candidate Information: Will you include pictures, biographies, or other details alongside candidates’ names to help voters make informed decisions?

Clarity on these aspects ensures transparency and helps maintain the integrity of the election process.

Don’t hesitate to check our help guide to help you setup your ballot.

5. Time Dedication and Setup

Consider how much time and resources your organization can dedicate to setting up and managing the election. Choosing to delegate the management of your election to Simply Voting can free time for your organization to focus on what matters most, while also reducing stress regarding the voting process.

CONTACT OUR TEAM FOR MORE INFORMATION