ElectionChamp
How to set up weighted voting
Give some voters more say than others, such as owners of larger units or delegates who represent more members, with one extra column in your voter list.
To set up weighted voting in ElectionChamp, turn on Weighted ballots on the Start step. A Weight column then appears in your voter list on the Voters step. Give each voter a whole number from 1 to 1,000,000,000, such as 1, 2 or 3. A voter with a weight of 3 counts as 3 votes. Weighting works with every voting method and is included on every plan. The results show weighted totals. Decimal weights are not supported.
When to use weighted voting
Weighted voting fits any group whose governing documents give members unequal votes. Common cases:
- HOAs and condo associations that allocate votes by unit or lot
- Cooperatives or companies that vote by shares held
- Federations where each delegate represents a different number of members
Confirm with your bylaws and counsel how votes are allocated before you assign weights. ElectionChamp applies the numbers you enter.
How to turn on weighted voting
- On the Start step, under Extra columns in your voter list, turn on Weighted ballots. A note reminds you that every voter needs a whole-number weight.
- In your spreadsheet, add a column headed Weight (Votes or Shares also work) with a whole number for each voter.
- On the Voters step, paste the rows with their heading row, or upload the sheet saved as a CSV file and match the columns. You can also type weights into the grid.
- Fix any red cell. A missing, zero or decimal weight stops the whole list from saving, and the rows to fix are listed.
- Spot-check a few rows against your records, then finish the other steps and launch. Weights lock at launch.
Turning Weighted ballots on or off after you've added voters means checking the list again on the Voters step before you launch.
Converting percentages to whole numbers
Weights must be whole numbers, and decimal weights are not supported. If your documents allocate votes as percentages, multiply every share by the same number until they are all whole. The proportions stay identical, so the outcome does too.
| Unit | Ownership share | Weight to enter (share x 100) |
|---|---|---|
| Unit A | 12.5% | 1250 |
| Unit B | 8% | 800 |
| Unit C | 4.25% | 425 |
Weighted voting example
Example: a 6-unit condo association elects 1 director. Under its bylaws, four smaller units carry a weight of 1 and two larger units carry a weight of 3, for a total weight of 10.
Four owners of the smaller units choose Lee. Both owners of the larger units choose Okafor. The results show weighted totals:
| Candidate | Weighted total | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Okafor | 6 | Yes |
| Lee | 4 |
By head count, Lee would win 4 ballots to 2. With weights, Okafor wins 6 to 4.
Weighting with every voting method
Weights work with every voting method in ElectionChamp, and with yes or no motions. A voter's ballot counts according to their weight, and the results show weighted totals. See voting methods for how each method counts.
Weighted voting is included on every plan with no add-on. Your price counts every key: your listed voters and any spare keys, as shown on our pricing page. With weighted ballots on, every voter needs a row with a weight, so there are no hand-out keys without a row. A voter you add after launch with a spare key gets their own weight.
Weighted voting is not for union officer elections, which require one member, one vote. In a small election, an unusual weight can identify a voter in the results. Ballots stay anonymous: administrators see whether a voter voted, never their choices. If you also need room for latecomers, read about spare keys.
Weighted Voting Questions
No. Weights must be whole numbers. Multiply every weight by the same factor, such as 100, to turn percentages into whole numbers without changing the proportions.
No. It is included on every plan. The price is based on all keys: voters, keys you hand out and spare keys.
All of them. Weighting works with every voting method, and the results show weighted totals.
No. The voter list locks at launch, so check every weight on the Voters step before you launch. A voter you add later with a spare key gets their own weight.
Check your weights before launch
Email support@electionchamp.com with questions about your weight column before you launch. Email support is free for administrators and voters.
Questions? Email support@electionchamp.com