ElectionChamp
Approval Voting for Boards and Committees
Voters mark every candidate they find acceptable. The candidate with the most approvals wins.
Approval voting lets each voter mark every candidate they find acceptable. Each mark counts as one approval. The candidate with the most approvals wins, and in a multi-seat race the highest totals fill the seats. Voters do not rank anyone, and they never have to pick between a favorite and a safer option. ElectionChamp counts approval questions automatically and shows totals when voting closes.
How approval voting works
An approval ballot lists the candidates with a checkbox beside each. Voters mark every one they would accept. Each mark adds one approval to that candidate's total.
The count is simple addition. The candidate with the highest approval total wins. In a multi-seat race, the highest totals fill the seats in order. Each candidate ends up with a single number, so results are easy to check.
Approval voting example
A volunteer arts collective picks a chair from 4 candidates. 80 members vote, and each marks every candidate they would accept.
| Candidate | Approvals | Share of voters | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amir | 58 | 73% | Winner |
| Rosa | 41 | 51% | |
| Ken | 37 | 46% | |
| Lina | 15 | 19% |
Members gave 151 approvals, about 1.9 per voter. The shares add to more than 100% because most members approved more than one candidate. Amir wins because nearly three in four members found him acceptable.
Approval voting for boards and committees
Boards and committees use approval voting when a crowded field could split support. In a plurality race, two similar candidates can divide their backers and hand the seat to a third. With approval, members can back both, so the split disappears.
It also works for decisions that are not elections. Use it to shortlist event venues, pick projects for a grant round or choose committee members from a volunteer list. The totals show how much support each option has across the whole group. Our board elections page shows how approval questions sit alongside other races on one ballot.
Few bylaws name approval voting for director elections. Before you use it for a board seat, confirm with your bylaws and counsel.
Limits of approval voting
Approval does not capture how strongly someone supports a candidate. A voter who loves one candidate and tolerates another gives both the same mark. If intensity of support matters, use ranked choice with Borda points or cumulative voting.
Some voters approve only their favorite to give that candidate an edge. That is allowed, and it turns their ballot into a plurality vote. Clear voter instructions help members use the method as intended.
How to set up approval voting in ElectionChamp
- Add a ballot question and choose Approval as the method.
- Add candidates with optional photos and bios, and set total winners.
- Write voter instructions, for example: "Mark every candidate you would accept."
- Turn on Allow Abstain or random order if your rules call for them.
- Upload your voter list, choose email, SMS or printed keys, and launch.
Approval questions can share a ballot with plurality races or yes or no motions. Results are counted automatically at close, and weighted voting works with approval too. Every method is included in per-election pricing, with no subscription.
Approval Voting Questions
Approval voting lets each voter mark every candidate they find acceptable. The candidate with the most approvals wins.
A collective of 80 members chooses a chair from 4 candidates. Each member marks everyone they would accept, and the candidate marked on the most ballots wins.
It suits crowded fields, committee picks and shortlists. For director seats, use it only if your bylaws allow it, and confirm with counsel.
Yes. Set the number of winners, and the candidates with the highest approval totals fill the seats.
Approval asks for a yes or no on each candidate. Ranked choice asks voters to put candidates in order, and ElectionChamp scores those rankings with Borda points.
Set up an approval ballot today
Setup and testing are free. Pay per election when you launch: free up to 20 voters, $10 flat for 21 to 200.
Questions? Email support@electionchamp.com