How to Ensure an Effective Election

Effective elections are a vital way to keep your member-based organization governed fairly. It is one of the few times you are able to get feedback from a large group of your members all at once, so you should make sure to take full advantage of such a great opportunity to gain knowledge and new perspectives. Almost every member-based organization has regular elections, which is why it’s important they are getting the most out of their efforts.

Some things to keep in mind when looking to make your organization’s election as effective as possible:

Understand the Legal Requirements Associated With Running Your Election

Creating an effective election involves more than simply gathering votes from members. Bylaw and state statutes are usually clear on what restrictions you may have to place on your election process. Keep in mind that these are always subject to change and you should be prepared if at some point, new bylaws or statutes affect the way you run your election process.

Several factors of an election may have legal implications, including: 

• Eligibility and voter registration: Eligibility criteria for all voters need to be thoroughly checked and verified.
• Notice requirements: Notifications and reminders, which should include mechanisms such as email and text message reminders, must provide voters with enough notice about an upcoming election. 
• Voting procedures: Clear and accessible voting procedures must be in place to ensure legal compliance.
• Ballot security and privacy: Mechanisms must be in place to ensure security throughout the election process.
• Counting and results reporting: Processes must be established to ensure complete transparency for how votes are counted and results reported.
• Dispute processes: Protocols must be in place to handle election-related challenges or disputes.
• Election accessibility: Measures must be taken to comply with accessibility laws so that all eligible voters, including people with disabilities, can participate. 
• Documentation and record keeping: Voter lists, ballots, and results must be recorded and retained for a legally mandated period. 
• Organizational and state regulations: Election processes must fully align with the organization’s bylaws and state statutes.

Make Potential Candidates Aware of the Election and Create a Desire to Run

It should be easy for members to nominate other members or themselves. Since uncontested elections often fuel voter apathy, having a wide range of members to choose from as potential board members can only help your organization. Keeping the nominee pool small limits potentially strong candidates from running. Promote this process heavily so all members know you are accepting nominations and that your election is occurring in the near future.

Organizations should introduce a robust approach to promoting nominations to provide candidate choices for voters. Use the following steps to start the nomination process at your organization:

1. Get members involved in meetings and activities to build loyalty. 
2. Foster a growth mindset among members and involve potential candidates in junior leadership roles.
3. Promote the value of participation and leadership to members. 
4. Create a user-friendly nominations platform. 

Promote and highlight why the election is important to potential candidates and what specifically they can contribute. Organizations can use many effective strategies to increase candidate engagement and participation in member elections. Meet members where they are with regular email announcements and social media posts highlighting the advantages of participation. Have a list of potential future candidates so you know who to reach out to when new candidates are needed. Also, avoid uncontested elections whenever possible. They discourage members from voting and bringing new ideas and talent to your board.

Ensure a Fair, Unbiased Election

Avoid any potential conflicts of interest throughout the process. Typically, turning the process over to a reputable and experienced third party is the best way to show impartiality and transparency to your members. This also helps to keep your organization free of complaints regarding the election process.

Try To Maximize the Reach of Your Election Within the Organization

Promote the election date heavily among your membership. Provide voting options that all members can have easy access to, not just some. This ensures that no member of your organization feels disenfranchised about their ability to vote and have a say. Embrace new technology, such as online voting tools, which have had a significant impact on engagement and participation in member-based organizations.

Review the Results and Your Process After the Fact

Make sure you are reviewing your election to highlight what went well, what didn’t, and how you could change things in the future. Be sure to ask yourself:

• Did you reach your required response rate or whatever goal you set?
• Did you meet all timelines associated with the election?
• Were there any complaints?
• What could you do next time to save effort and ensure effectiveness?

Trust Survey & Ballot Systems to Manage Effective Elections at Your Organization

If you’re wondering how to run an effective election with so many boxes to tick, our team has you covered. We specialize in managing every aspect of elections to ensure complete compliance, enhanced member engagement, and objective result reporting. We have been setting the standard in election management for over three decades and continue to evolve to incorporate the latest technologies. 

To learn more or discuss your organization’s unique election requirements, contact us today!