ElectionChamp
Every Voting Method Your Organization Needs
Plurality, ranked choice, approval voting, nominations, motions, and more. Choose the right method for each vote, or mix them in a single election. Need some voters to count for more than one vote? Weighted voting is included.
Plurality Voting
Also known as: First Past the Post (FPTP), Simple Majority
The most widely used voting method. Each voter selects one candidate, and the candidate with the most votes wins. Simple, familiar, and fast. Ideal when you need a straightforward decision with a clear winner.
Read the plurality voting guide ›
How It Works
Most votes wins
Ranked Choice Voting
Counted with: Borda count (points for each rank)
Voters rank candidates in order of preference, up to one rank per seat. ElectionChamp counts the ballots with Borda points: each rank earns points, first choice the most, and the highest totals win the seats. It rewards candidates with broad support across the whole membership. If your bylaws require instant runoff, export the ranked results as CSV and count them in a separate tool.
Read the ranked choice and Borda count guide ›
How It Works
Rank by preference, Borda points
Single Transferable Vote (STV)
Also known as: Proportional Ranked Choice, Multi-Winner RCV
Need STV for your multi-seat election? ElectionChamp supports it through our ranked choice voting workflow. Run your election using ranked choice ballots (voters rank candidates just as STV requires), then export the results into our free STV Excel calculator to determine winners using the full STV algorithm with quota calculation and vote transfers.
How It Works
Ranked ballots + free STV spreadsheet
Approval Voting
Also known as: Multi-vote, Approval ballot
For multi-seat elections. Each voter marks every candidate they approve of, up to the number of seats. The candidates with the most approvals win. It runs as a Plurality question with more than one winner, and it reduces vote-splitting by asking voters to back every candidate they'd be happy with, not just their single favorite.
Read the approval voting guide ›
How It Works
2 seats: approve up to 2 candidates
Cumulative Voting
Also known as: Vote stacking, Plumping
Each voter gets one vote for every seat being filled, and can give them all to one candidate or spread them among several. The candidates with the most votes win the seats. Because a group of voters can pool its votes behind one candidate, cumulative voting gives a minority a fair chance at a seat, which is why many HOA and corporate bylaws require it. With weighted ballots, each vote counts the voter's weight, such as the units they own.
Read the cumulative voting guide ›
How It Works
3 seats: every voter has 3 votes to place
Nominations & Write-Ins
Also known as: Write-in nominations, Call for candidates
Before the election, let members suggest candidates. A nomination question has no list: each voter writes in up to as many names as you set, each up to 60 characters, and can add a note if you turn on comments. When voting closes, the same name written by several voters is counted together, whatever its capitals. Then list the nominees you accept on the election ballot. This replaces the awkward email chains and phone trees organizations use to find candidates.
How It Works
Collect candidates before the vote
Motions & Resolutions
Also known as: Approve/Reject, Yes/No Vote, Bylaw Amendments
Put a motion, resolution, or bylaw amendment to your members with a simple approve/reject/abstain format. Perfect for governance decisions that need a formal recorded vote: budget approvals, rule changes, mergers, or any yes/no question that needs documented consent.
Running a member referendum? Read the referendum guide ›
How It Works
Formal approve / reject votes
Surveys & Polls
Also known as: Straw Poll, Member Survey, Advisory Vote
Gauge member opinions, collect preferences, or run informal advisory votes. Surveys and polls give you the same security and tracking as a formal election, but with flexible formatting for non-binding decisions. Perfect for gathering input before a formal vote.
How It Works
Flexible member feedback
Mix Multiple Methods in a Single Election
Your real-world elections rarely have just one type of vote. ElectionChamp lets you combine multiple ballot items, each with its own voting method, in a single election. Voters see everything on one ballot and vote once.
No need to run separate elections for different agenda items. Set it up, launch once, done.
Which Method Should You Use?
Not sure which voting method fits your election? Here's a quick comparison to help you decide.
| Method | Seats | Ranking? | Best When | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plurality | 1 or more | No | Straightforward election, clear choices | Simple |
| Ranked Choice | 2+ | Yes | Contested race, want broadly supported winners | Moderate |
| STV (via Excel) | 2+ | Yes | Multi-seat, proportional, results via free Excel calculator | Moderate |
| Approval | 2+ | No | Crowded field, several seats | Simple |
| Nomination | N/A | No | Sourcing candidates before a vote | Simple |
| Motion | N/A | No | Approve/reject decision | Simple |
| Survey / Poll | N/A | No | Advisory or informal feedback | Simple |
Weighted Voting
Not every vote counts the same in every organization. Give each voter the number of votes they are entitled to (by shares, units or seniority), and every ballot is counted accordingly.
Turn on Weighted ballots in the Start step, and the Voters step adds a Weight column. Give each voter a whole number, for example Voter A = 2 votes, Voter B = 5 votes, Voter C = 1 vote. Weighted voting works with every voting method, is included on every plan, and results show weighted totals. Decimal weights are not supported.
Voting Method Questions
Yes. You can add multiple ballot items to a single election, each with its own voting method. For example, use plurality for a board election, ranked choice for committee seats, and a simple motion for a bylaw amendment, all in one ballot that voters complete once.
It depends on how many seats you're filling. For a single-seat race, plurality works well. For multi-seat boards (like electing 3 directors from 8 candidates), plurality is the simplest option, and ranked choice and cumulative voting are there if your bylaws call for them. If you need proportional representation via STV, you can run the election using ranked choice ballots and export the results into our free STV Excel calculator to determine the winners.
Yes. When voting closes, ElectionChamp counts ranked ballots with Borda points: each rank earns points, first choice the most, and the highest totals win the seats. There are no elimination rounds, so there is nothing to tally by hand. For STV, run your election as ranked choice, then export the results into our free STV Excel calculator, which handles the quota and transfer calculations.
Only during nominations. A nomination question lets members write in names, up to 60 characters each. The same name written by several voters is counted together, whatever its capitals. Election questions have no write-in field, so run a nomination round first and list the nominees on the ballot.
Yes. Weighted voting lets you give different voters a different number of votes, for example Voter A counts as 2 votes, Voter B as 5, and Voter C as 1. Turn on Weighted ballots in the Start step, and the Voters step adds a Weight column. Give each voter a whole number (decimals are not supported). It works with every voting method, is included on every plan, and results show weighted totals.
Yes. Plurality, ranked choice, approval, nominations, motions, surveys: every voting method is available on every plan, including the free tier. STV is supported through our ranked choice ballots plus a free Excel calculator we provide. We never lock voting methods behind paid tiers.
Contact us and we'll help you choose. Most organizations use plurality for simple races and motions for approve/reject decisions. If you have contested multi-seat elections and want proportional representation, we can walk you through our STV workflow using ranked choice ballots and our free Excel calculator. We're happy to guide you based on your specific governance needs.
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Not sure which method to use? We'll help you choose: support@electionchamp.com