Build your ballot: questions, methods and candidates

Add a question or position

1. On the first card, type the Question or position, such as Board of Directors or Approve the 2027 operating budget. It can be up to 60 characters.
2. Pick a voting method and set the counts, as below.
3. Type the candidates or options.
4. Press Add another ballot item for the next question.

Each card is numbered, such as Ballot item 1 of 3. Use the arrows on a card to move it up or down, and the bin to remove it. Removing a card that has content asks first, and the card goes when you save. A ballot can have up to 50 ballot items.

Choose a voting method

Pick one of the four buttons under Voting method. The i button beside it explains all four.

Because a Ranked question's ranks match its winners, a Ranked question with 1 winner takes only each voter's 1st choice: ranking several candidates for a single seat isn't available. If choices tie for the last winning place, all of them are marked as winners, so your own rules settle the tie. With weighted ballots, each vote counts its voter's weight. Read more about voting methods and write-in nominations.

Set the counts

• Total winners: a whole number from 1 to 999. Use the number of seats, or 1 for a single question or motion. On a Ranked question it's also how many candidates or options each voter can rank, and the points a 1st choice earns. On a Nominations question it's also how many names each voter can write in.
• Voters select (Plurality only): Up to lets each voter pick any number, from none up to Total winners. Exactly makes each voter pick at least the number you type, from 1 up to the number of winners.
• Voters choose: Candidates or Options. This sets the word voters see.

A sentence under the counts says how the question works, for example:

• “Each voter picks up to 3 candidates. The 3 with the most votes win.”
• “Each voter must pick 3 candidates. The 3 with the most votes win.”
• “Each voter ranks up to 3 candidates: a 1st choice earns 3 points, a 2nd 2, and so on down to 1. The 3 with the most points win.”
• “Each voter has 3 votes to give all to one candidate or spread among several. The 3 with the most votes win.”
• “Each voter can write in up to 2 names. The 2 names written in most often win.”

Voters see a matching hint above the choices, such as “Choose up to 3 candidates.” or “Choose 1 option.” On a ranked question it reads “Rank the candidates in order of preference, with your favorite as 1st choice. You can rank up to 3.” A Nominations question shows a “Write in a name” box for each name a voter may write.

Add candidates or options

• Type a name, then press Enter for the next one. An empty row always waits at the end of the list.
• To add many at once, copy a column of names from a spreadsheet or document and paste it into a name box.
• Drag the grip beside a name to reorder the list, or select the grip and use the arrow keys. The × removes a name.

Every question except Nominations needs:

• at least 2 candidates or options, so voters have a choice;
• at least as many as Total winners;
• no more than 50;
• names of up to 60 characters, with no name listed twice (capitals don't count).

A Nominations question has no list: the card says “Voters write in names, so this question has no list.” If you switch a question that has names to Nominations, the card warns that saving removes them.

Add a photo and bio

1. Press Photo & bio beside a name.
2. In the Photo and bio window, press Choose photo and pick a JPG, PNG or GIF under 1.5 MB. It appears beside the name on the ballot.
3. Write the Bio or description. It can have bold, italic and underlined text, lists, headings and links.
4. Press Done. The button now reads Edit photo & bio.

Voters open the photo and bio with View Information on the ballot. A new photo shows in the preview once you save.

Write voter instructions

Voter instructions (optional) appear under the question's choices. Use them for term lengths, eligibility notes or a link to your election rules.

• The small editor keeps bold, italic, underline, bulleted and numbered lists, and links (http, https or mailto). Its eraser button clears formatting.
• Anything else is removed, such as strikethrough, colors, images and tables. Pasted text arrives as plain text.
• Links open in a new tab, so voters keep their place on the ballot.
• Instructions can be up to 10,000 characters. Formatting and link addresses don't count toward that.

Abstain, random order and comments

• Allow abstain adds an Abstain choice. A voter who abstains picks nothing else on that question, and the results count abstentions separately.
• Random order shows each voter the choices in a random order, so nobody gains from being listed first. It isn't offered for Nominations.
• Ask for comments adds an optional comment box under the question, for voters to leave you a note. Comments come with that question's Ballots (CSV) download on the Results tab, once voting closes.

Set up a yes or no motion

1. Add a ballot item and type the motion, such as Approve the 2027 operating budget.
2. Keep Plurality and Total winners at 1.
3. Set Voters choose to Options, and type Yes and No.
4. Turn on Allow abstain if members may abstain.
5. To make every voter answer, pick Exactly 1. With Up to, a voter may leave the question blank.

The results show each option's votes and percentage. There's no pass or fail setting, so check the result against the threshold in your bylaws, such as a two-thirds majority.

Check what voters see

The What voters see panel shows the card you're working on, laid out on a phone, as voters will see it. It updates as you type, before you save. New photos appear once you save.

Once the ballot is saved, Preview the full ballot opens every question in a new tab: “Every question, as voters get it. Try voting; nothing is counted.” It shows your last saved ballot, so save first. See test your election before you launch.

Save the ballot

• Save keeps you on the page and shows “Ballot updated successfully.”
• Continue to voters saves and opens the Voters step. Back returns to Start.
• If something needs fixing, the page says “Fix the highlighted items, then try again.” and shows each problem next to its field.
• Leaving with changes you haven't saved asks first.

Want a head start? Start from a template on My elections fills in the ballot for common votes, and you can change it here.