Test your election before you launch

See each question as you build it

On the Ballot step, the What voters see panel shows the question you're working on, laid out on a phone. It updates as you type, before you save. Check the hint above the choices, such as “Choose up to 3 candidates.”, and that each name and bio reads well. New photos appear once you save.

Vote through the whole ballot

The ballot preview opens your saved ballot in a new tab, as voters get it, with a banner saying it's in preview mode and no votes will be saved. Make your choices, confirm and submit. Nothing is counted, and no voter key is used. You can open it from:

• Preview the full ballot on the Ballot step, once the ballot is saved;
• Try the ballot first on the Launch step;
• Preview ballot on the Pick up where you left off card in My elections;
• Preview Ballot on the dashboard, and Preview ballot on the setup summary, after launch.

The preview shows your last saved ballot, so save your changes first. Questions set to Random order are shuffled each time, as they are for voters.

Check the real invitation

• The What voters see panel on the Invitations step shows the real email on a phone, with a sample key. It refreshes as you type.
• Email me a test sends the email to you, with the subject Test: Vote in, followed by the election name. Its links open your ballot preview. Open it on a phone and a computer, and check that it didn't land in spam.
• For text messages, check the preview and the counter: there's no test text.

Email me a test needs a verified account email, and you can send 5 tests an hour. See edit your invitations.

Run a small test election

Up to 20 voters is free, so a full rehearsal costs nothing. It shows you exactly what members get: the real invitation, the ballot, the Vote Recorded page and the results.

1. Set up the election as you want the real one, but add only yourself and a few people you trust as voters: 20 keys or fewer, spare keys included.
2. On Start, press Now so voting opens at launch, and pick Open for 3 days.
3. Launch. A free election needs no card.
4. Check that each invitation arrives, vote from a phone and from a computer, and watch turnout on the dashboard.
5. The election closes as soon as everyone has voted, or you can click More, then Close voting early. Then check the Results tab.

Then set up the real election

1. In My elections, find the test under Past elections and press Make a copy.
2. Leave Also copy the voter list unticked, unless you want the same voters again, and press Make the copy.
3. Continue the copy: rename it, pick the real dates, and add your member list on the Voters step.

Keys from the test don't work in the copy: every voter in a copy gets a new key. See My elections.

A last check before the real launch

• The voting dates, and the time zone named under them on Start.
• Who can see results while voting is open.
• How voters get their key, and that the How voters get their key panel on the Voters step matches your plan.
• Total winners on each question, which on a Ranked or Nominations question is also how many each voter can rank or write in, and Up to or Exactly on Plurality questions.
• Phone numbers that start with the country code, if you send text messages.
• Weights, if votes are weighted.
• Spare keys for members who may join after launch.
• Anyone who shouldn't vote is off the list: voter keys can't be deactivated after launch.