Present the numbers clearly, collect a formal member vote, and document the decision. Annual budgets, fee increases, special assessments — get it done right the first time.
Show budget details and financials directly on the ballot.
Clean yes/no format for financial decisions.
Know immediately whether approval was granted.
Timestamped documentation for financial governance.
Budget votes fail when members don't understand what they're approving. ElectionChamp lets you present the financial details — line items, totals, per-unit impact, year-over-year comparisons — directly on the ballot. No separate email attachments that get lost. No "I didn't see the budget" excuses.
Each budget item or fee change gets its own approve/reject/abstain vote. Put the annual operating budget, a special assessment, and a reserve fund contribution on the same ballot — each voted on independently.
What your voters will see
When voting closes, ElectionChamp calculates results instantly. You see the exact breakdown — approve, reject, abstain — with percentages and counts. No ambiguity about whether the budget passed or the assessment was authorized.
For organizations that require a simple majority, supermajority, or specific quorum for financial decisions, the results make it obvious whether the threshold was met. Export the report and attach it to your meeting minutes — done.
Calculated instantly on close
Budget and fee votes are among the most consequential decisions an organization makes. Here's how different groups handle them online.
Annual operating budgets, monthly assessment increases, special assessments for roof replacements or paving, reserve fund contributions. Many states require a formal member vote for budget approval.
Annual budget approval, program funding allocations, membership dues adjustments. Documented votes demonstrate fiscal governance to donors, grant-makers, and the IRS.
Annual budget ratification, patronage dividend decisions, capital call votes, fee structure changes. Credit unions must document member approval for specific financial decisions per NCUA regulations.
Dues increases, strike fund allocations, political action fund contributions, special assessment levies. Union financial decisions often require a specific vote threshold and documented member authorization.
Annual church budget, building fund campaigns, pastor compensation packages, mission funding allocations. Anonymous voting keeps financial discussions from getting personal.
Membership fee adjustments, conference pricing, program budgets, vendor contract approvals. Members across the country vote without attending an in-person meeting.
Present the financials clearly, make it easy to vote, and create documentation that stands up to scrutiny.
Present budget summaries, line items, comparisons, and per-member impact directly on the ballot. Members read and vote in one place — no hunting for attachments.
Annual budget, reserve fund, special assessment, fee increase — put them all on one ballot. Each item gets its own vote and its own result. Members complete everything at once.
Budget votes need strong participation to be legitimate. Automated email and SMS reminders to non-voters help you hit quorum without chasing people down manually.
Financial votes can be contentious — especially fee increases and special assessments. Anonymous voting means members vote their actual opinion, not what their neighbor expects.
Export results as PDF with vote counts, percentages, participation rates, and timestamps. Attach to board minutes, financial records, or regulatory filings.
Running your budget vote alongside a board election or bylaw amendment? Put everything on one ballot. Voters handle all their annual meeting business in a single session.
No tech skills required. Most organizations set up their first budget vote in under 10 minutes.
Name your vote (e.g., "2025 Annual Budget Approval"), add context about the financial decisions, and set your voting dates.
⏱ 2 minutesEnable anonymous voting, set notification channels, and configure results visibility. Smart defaults handle most settings automatically.
⏱ 1 minuteAdd each budget item with financial details — line items, totals, per-unit impact. Set each to approve/reject/abstain format. Preview what members will see.
⏱ 3 minutesImport your membership list via CSV. Each member gets a unique, secure 16-digit voting key. The system validates your list and flags errors.
⏱ 2 minutesEdit the emails members receive, add your branding, and schedule automatic reminders. Critical for budget votes where you need strong participation.
⏱ 2 minutesPreview everything — ballot, financials, voter list, notifications. When it looks right, hit launch. Members receive secure voting links immediately.
✅ Done!Small board-level budget approvals (up to 20 members) are completely free. Membership-wide votes are priced by voter count. Every feature included, no subscriptions.
See Full PricingYes. The ballot description field lets you present budget summaries with line items, totals, per-member impact, and year-over-year comparisons. You control the formatting, so you can present the financials in whatever way makes the most sense for your members. For longer documents, you can include a link to a hosted PDF.
Yes. Each budget item is a separate ballot question with its own approve/reject/abstain vote. A member can approve the operating budget, reject the special assessment, and abstain on the reserve fund increase — all on the same ballot. Results are calculated independently for each item.
You can set up a ballot question with multiple options instead of a simple yes/no. For example: "Option A: Repair roof ($45,000 special assessment, $250/unit)" vs. "Option B: Replace roof ($120,000 special assessment, $667/unit)" vs. "Option C: Defer to 2026." Members pick their preferred option, and the winning choice is determined by vote count.
Absolutely. This is extremely common — especially for annual meetings. Put your board election, budget approval, bylaw amendments, and any other business on a single ballot. Each item uses its own voting method and produces its own results. Members complete everything in one session.
For membership-wide votes on budgets and fees, anonymous voting is typically recommended. It ensures members vote based on their actual financial concerns rather than social pressure. For board-level budget votes where you need to record each director's position for the minutes, you can use non-anonymous (open) ballots instead.
If a budget vote fails, you have a clear, documented result showing the exact margin and participation numbers. Most organizations revise the proposal and hold a second vote. You can create a new election on ElectionChamp as many times as needed — each vote is independent and creates its own documentation.
ElectionChamp's online voting model effectively replaces the need for proxies. Instead of collecting proxy forms and having someone vote on behalf of absent members, every member votes directly from their own device during the voting window. This produces more accurate results — members make their own choices rather than delegating to a proxy holder.
ElectionChamp provides encrypted, authenticated voting with a complete timestamped audit trail — significantly more robust than show-of-hands or email votes. Specific legal requirements vary by state, organization type, and governing documents. We recommend checking with your legal counsel for your particular situation, but our documentation exceeds what most governance frameworks require.
Elect board members with candidate bios
Formal member approval for rule changes
President, chair, treasurer races
Union and member contract approvals
Collect and process nominations online
Non-binding polls and formal motions
Set up in under 10 minutes. Free for up to 20 voters. No credit card required.
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