We are excited to announce the launch of our redesigned voting website starting December 16th 2024 for most accounts and continuing throughout the first months of 2025 for accounts with premium features, customized voting websites and clients that are in the middle of an election process.
As we are committed to always improving the voter experience, this new design offers a clean, modern look that is both visually appealing and user-friendly. Fully optimized for all devices, it ensures a seamless experience whether electors are browsing on a desktop, tablet or smartphone.
Key Features and Improvements
– Enhanced Accessibility
This refreshed layout aims to inspire confidence, improve usability and offer a smooth effortless experience. With a strong focus on accessibility, the site is designed to be inclusive for all users, providing easy navigation and clear content.
– User-Friendly Design
The new voting website incorporates:
A responsive design that adapts to different devices
Intuitive navigation for a smoother user experience
Simplified content presentation
The new website now includes a progress indicator, a feature designed to reduce abandoned ballots by guiding voters through the process.
Overall, the redesign enhances both the aesthetic and functional elements of the website, streamlining the voting process for electors and ultimately fostering increased participation. By creating a more intuitive and visually appealing interface, we aim to empower voters and make their experience as seamless as possible.
Feedback and Continuous Improvement
We value your input and are committed to continually enhancing your voting experience. We’ll be gathering research and feedback from users to make further improvements.
Simply Voting and Intelivote powered the online voting system and managed election logistics, enabling the municipality to elect its first new mayor in over a decade.
Internet voting was the preferred method for 62% of voters, 13% more compared to 2020.
Montreal, Canada – November 26, 2024 – Simply Voting, in collaboration with Intelivote Systems, successfully delivered online voting solutions for the 2024 Halifax Regional Municipality Election. The innovative approach resulted in a significant increase in online voter turnout, with 69% of votes being cast digitally (internet, kiosk and telephone voting), contributing to a smooth and accessible election process.
In a historic result, the municipality’s residents elected Andy Fillmore. He is a former MP, as its first new mayor in over a decade. Fillmore won decisively, defeating his nearest competitor by 21,000 votes. Voter engagement was at the forefront. Housing and affordability set as Fillmore’s top priorities as he prepares to take office.
Simply Voting provided the online, kiosk and telephone voting platforms for the election. While Intelivote offered logistical support, including election project management. The advance voting election, held from October 8 to October 16. This period allowed voters to cast their ballots using a unique personal identification number via internet or phone. Paper ballots was available only on election day, October 19.
Key Election Stats:
Voter turnout reached 36.8% of the 335,341 eligible voters, with 123,529 total votes cast.
62% of voters chose to vote online, representing 76,386 individuals vs 32% votes by paper ballot.
During advanced voting 90.4% of the votes were cast online using Simply Voting’s platform.
With 58% of voters using desktop devices and 42% using mobile devices.
5% of voters opted for telephone voting, while 2% used the kiosk voting option.
The voting process involved over 1,200 election workers, with months of behind-the-scenes planning.
The success of the election was praised by Returning Officer Iain MacLean: “We are extremely satisfied with the voting solution provided by Simply Voting and Intelivote. This year’s election goal was to ensure accessibility, and the results confirm we met that objective.”
Brian Lack, President of Simply Voting, expressed pride in the company’s contribution: “It’s incredibly gratifying to see our online voting solutions set a new record for online voter turnout. The overwhelming preference for internet voting reaffirms the importance of providing an easy-to-use, accessible platform for all voters.”
Dean Smith, President of Intelivote Systems, also emphasized the collaboration’s success: “Intelivote Systems provided an electronic voting solution to 43 additional separate municipal elections in the province-wide 2024 Municipal Elections allowing up to 94% of all Nova Scotian electors an opportunity to vote safely and conveniently, including over 335,000 electors in HRM. Intelivote’s evoting management with expert knowledge of Municipal Election processes, partnered with Simply Voting’s technology, allowed our clients to deliver successful and secure elections across the municipality and the province.”
About Simply Voting Inc. Simply Voting Inc. is a full-service provider of secure, web-based electronic voting solutions. Over 5,000 organizations from municipalities to universities to unions rely on Simply Voting to safely manage their election. For more information, visit www.simplyvoting.com.
About Intelivote Systems Inc.
Intelivote is a services company which provides eDemocracy solutions to Government at all levels, hundreds of Municipalities in both Ontario and Nova Scotia, political parties, unions, associations and other National and International organizations that regularly conduct elections, surveys, referendums, plebiscites, or other events that require secure, accessible member participation. For more information, visit www.intelivote.com.
Is Your HOA Ready for Electronic Voting? Simply Voting is Here to Help
As of January 1, 2025, California HOAs can legally implement electronic voting for most secret ballot elections. This change, driven by Assembly Bill 2159 (AB 2159), requires HOAs to update their Election Rules and adopt new record-keeping practices, such as maintaining lists of electronic and paper ballot voters.
With Simply Voting, your HOA can easily comply with AB 2159 and the Davis-Stirling Act. Simply Voting ensures compliance with secure, verifiable electronic ballots, user-friendly interfaces, and seamless record management, addressing essential requirements for Inspectors of Elections.
Key Features:
PRE-ELECTION
Easy Opt-In and Opt-Out Options Simply Voting’s platform supports flexibility, allowing the inspector of election to upload voters who opted in to electronic voting with ease, as mandated by AB 2159.
Secure Record Management AB 2159 necessitates keeping organized records, especially with email addresses of members voting electronically. Simply Voting ensures secure and compliant record management, simplifying the process for HOAs and aiding Inspectors of Elections in verifying and maintaining election integrity.
Seamless Communication Once candidates are known election notices can be sent to voters in advance of voting, and as well as at the start of voting and periodic reminders to voters who haven’t yet voted. The platform’s customizable notifications keep members informed of election details, deadlines, and voting instructions, ensuring clear communication and boosting engagement.
Hybrid Services: Simply Voting is compatible with hybrid events. It can be a hybrid mix of electronic, paper voting, prior to a meeting or during a meeting, candidate votes or motion votes.
Device Communication Confirmation: we provide a sample test ballot portal at least 30 days before voting, allowing voters to test their devices with the voting system.
User-Friendly and Accessible Design: AB-2159 requires that electronic voting systems be accessible to all HOA members, regardless of technical proficiency. Simply Voting’s intuitive interface is designed with ease of use in mind, helping to increase member engagement and participation. The platform’s accessibility ensures that all eligible members can cast their votes with ease, in compliance with the new law.
DURING THE ELECTION
Member Authentication: Simply Voting provides secure identity authentication methods for online voting. Voting passwords are generated for each eligible voter and distributed by email. Or, Simply Voting integrates with your existing authentication method for a single-sign-on solution.
Secure Ballot Transmission: Transmits electronic ballots securely to maintain integrity during transit.
Compliance with Quorum Flexibility Under AB-1458 With AB-1458’s reduced quorum allowances, Simply Voting can assist HOAs in managing and meeting updated quorum requirements for rescheduled meetings, ensuring elections remain valid and compliant with the latest California regulations.
POST-ELECTION
Secure Storage: Maintains access to electronic ballots for authorized election officials for recounts and audits.
Transparent and Auditable Results: Transparency is a cornerstone of AB-2159. Simply Voting offers a comprehensive audit trail and detailed verification processes, which allow HOAs to review and verify results post-election. This auditability enhances the integrity of the election and ensures that results are both accurate and trustworthy, meeting the law’s transparency requirements.
Other features required:
Write-in Candidates: Supports write-in options.
Weighted and Cumulative Voting: Allows cumulative voting in line with governing documents, maintaining secret ballot procedures.
True Anonymity: Permanently separates identifying information from ballots, ensuring anonymity and compliance with audit requirements.
All votes are final cannot be revoked.
These features not only align with regulatory requirements but also promote transparency, security, and member trust in the voting process.
With Simply Voting, California HOAs and Inspector of Elections can confidently adopt electronic voting, meeting all new legal requirements while providing a secure, transparent voting experience. Stay compliant with AB 2159 and provide your HOA members with a streamlined, trustworthy voting process.
We’re excited to announce that for 2024, Simply Voting has made a charity donation of $30,000 to Sun Youth Organization and Le Chaînon.
Our mission is to deliver affordable, trustworthy, and efficient e-democracy solutions to the thousands of organizations we serve. But beyond our role in supporting democratic processes, we also believe in giving back and making a meaningful impact on the world and our local community.
Each year, we invite our team to recommend charitable organizations that are making a positive difference. We then hold a company-wide secret ballot to decide where our support will go, aligning with our commitment to both democracy and community impact.
We’re excited to announce that for 2024, Simply Voting has made donations of $15,000 to each of the following organizations:
Le Chaînon
Founded in 1932, Le Chaînon’s mission is to welcome women in difficulty, unconditionally and without judgment.
Le Chaînon is a society project. Its vision is based on the fundamental idea of kindness and unconditional acceptance, in the hope of seeing a society develop that is truly in the service of the most disadvantaged communities. It acts as a lasting source of hope, it embodies freedom of action while respecting differences, so that vulnerable people can thrive.
They offer women secure shelter as well as help and support adapted to their needs. With the help of experienced assistants, women who come to Le Chaînon will take steps towards achieving personal and social independence and autonomy.
Women benefit from professional support in an environment that encourages the most egalitarian relationships possible.
Le Chaînon also hopes to take collective and social responsibility to denounce inequality, difficult living conditions and the various forms of violence that women experience in their lives. Its goal is to promote the rights of women – with women.
Founded in 1979, Sun Youth Organization (Sun Youth) provides emergency services and basic needs to people in need in Montreal. Sun Youth also runs crime prevention programs, sports and activities for youth, and a summer camp.
In F2022, Sun Youth spent $4.7m cash on its programs and distributed $5.6m in donated goods. The charity runs three main programs: Emergency Services, Community Services, and Camp. Sun Youth’s most recent annual report is from F2023. In F2023, Sun Youth helped under 90,000 people (68,000 in F2022) across its programs. Of the people it helped, 32% were men, 33% were women, and 36% were children.
For 38 years, Sun Youth was based in Montreal’s legendary former Baron Byng High School on Saint-Urbain Street. In November 2018, the Montreal School Board took back its building, which left Sun Youth without a permanent home. Since then, Sun Youth has continued to provide services from temporary facilities while working towards Building a Brighter Future, a plan to build a permanent community hub to offer its services. The federal government committed $10.7m for the new building. .
Community Services represented 15% ($722k) of program costs in F2023. Sun Youth runs sports and after-school and day camps to help youth develop new talents and socialization skills. In F2023, the charity distributed $89,000 worth of school supplies to 1,144 students. 2,500 children participated in Sun Youth’s activities and leagues. The charity also distributed 100 bikes to 100 youths.
