ElectionChamp
Run Contract Ratification Votes Online
Present contract terms to your members, collect a binding ratification vote, and document the outcome, all with an encrypted, auditable process that holds up to scrutiny.
Contract Terms on Ballot
Key provisions displayed directly for voter review.
Ratify / Reject
Clear, unambiguous accept or reject format.
Secret Ballot
Members vote their conscience without pressure.
Defensible Records
Timestamped audit trail, ready if the result is ever questioned.
Present Contract Terms Members Can Actually Review
Ratification votes are high-stakes: the outcome sets the terms members work under. ElectionChamp lets you present key contract terms, a summary of changes from the previous agreement, and links to the full document directly on the ballot. Members see exactly what they're voting on before they cast their vote.
For simple ratifications, a single ratify/reject vote works perfectly. For complex agreements with multiple components, you can break the vote into separate ballot items: ratify the wage package, vote separately on the benefits changes, approve or reject the work rules independently.
Sample Ratification Ballot
What your members will see
Definitive Results With a Complete Paper Trail
Contract ratification results need to be bulletproof. When voting closes, ElectionChamp calculates results instantly and produces a complete record: exact vote counts, participation rates and a timestamped audit trail of the whole vote.
The record shows that every voter used a unique key, that each key was used only once, and that the results were counted automatically, with no one tallying by hand. It is the record you want on hand if the result is ever questioned.
Ratification Results
Calculated instantly on close
Contract Votes Across Organizations
Ratification isn't just for unions. Any organization that needs member approval for a binding agreement can use this process.
Unions & Labor Orgs
Collective bargaining agreement ratification, tentative agreement votes, strike authorization, memoranda of understanding. Secret ballot voting protects members from employer or peer pressure during high-stakes decisions.
HOAs & Condo Boards
Management company contract approvals, vendor agreements for landscaping, maintenance, or renovation. Members vote on significant contracts that affect assessments and community quality.
Cooperatives & Credit Unions
Service provider agreements, merger proposals, partnership contracts. Member-owned organizations often require formal member approval for contracts above a certain threshold.
Nonprofits & Charities
Major vendor contracts, partnership agreements, executive compensation packages. Board or member approval documented for donor accountability and regulatory compliance.
Professional Associations
Conference venue contracts, technology vendor agreements, insurance carrier selections. Member vote on contracts that significantly impact dues or member services.
Businesses & Corporations
Shareholder approval for M&A agreements, executive compensation plans, major vendor contracts. Documented board or shareholder ratification for corporate governance records.
Features That Make Ratification Votes Bulletproof
When members are deciding their contract, the process needs to hold up.
Contract Summary on Ballot
Present key terms, changes from the previous agreement, and links to the full document. Members review and vote in one place. No separate document hunting.
Secret Ballot Guarantee
Encrypted, anonymous voting ensures members vote their true position. No one (not the union leadership, not the employer, not ElectionChamp) can see how any individual voted.
One Member, One Vote
Each member gets a unique 16-character voting key, and each key works only once. No ballot stuffing and no duplicate voting.
Timestamped Audit Trail
From launch to close, every step is logged with its time: when voting opened, every ballot submitted (never by whom), reminders and resends, and when voting closed. Results are counted automatically. Download the trail as a CSV for your records.
Reminders to Non-Voters
Ratification votes need strong participation. Send a reminder to every member who hasn't voted with one click from your dashboard, by email or text.
Vote From Any Device
Members vote from their phone, tablet, or computer, whether at home, on break, or between shifts. No need to attend a meeting or visit a union hall. Participation is dramatically higher.
Set up your ratification vote in 5 steps
No software to install. Voters need no account. Most organizers finish in about 10 minutes.
Start
Name your election, pick when voting opens and closes, and add your logo. Choose how voters get their key: by email, by text message or handed out.
Ballot
Add each question or position and its candidates or options. Choose how members vote, and check the live preview of what they will see. Put the agreement to a Ratify or Reject vote, with the key terms in the voter instructions.
Voters
Paste your member list from a spreadsheet or upload a CSV. Each voter gets a private key. Add a weight column if some votes count more.
Invitations
The email and text message are written for you. Change the wording if you like, and email yourself a test.
Launch
Check the summary and launch. Up to 20 voters is free, and larger elections pay once, at launch.
After launch
Members vote from any device. Watch turnout, send a reminder to those who haven't voted, and share the results when voting closes.
Ratification Votes Start Free
Small executive committee ratifications (up to 20 members) are completely free. Larger membership-wide votes are priced by voter count. Every feature included: secret ballot, audit trail, reminders.
See Full Pricing- 15-member board contract voteFree
- 200-member local ratification$10
- 500-member HOA vendor vote$25
- 1,500-member union CBA vote$75
- 3,000-member regional ratification$150
- 8,000-member statewide vote$400
Contract Ratification Questions
A ratified contract is one the members have formally approved by vote. In a union, the bargaining team reaches a tentative agreement with the employer, then members vote to ratify or reject it. Once ratified, the agreement takes effect on the dates it states. Associations and co-ops use the same word when members approve an agreement the board negotiated.
Usually not by one side alone. Once members ratify and the parties sign, changes normally take a negotiated amendment, and many union constitutions require another member vote to approve it. Check your constitution, bylaws, and counsel before reopening a ratified agreement.
Yes. Every ballot is secret. The system records that a member voted, never how, and no setting turns this off. Each ballot is stored with no voter ID, timestamp or submission order, and it can't be changed once cast.
You can include a summary of key terms directly on the ballot and provide a link to the full contract document (hosted on your website or a file-sharing service). For most ratification votes, a clear summary of material changes plus a link to the complete agreement is the most effective approach.
Yes. You can structure the ballot with multiple items (vote on the wage package, vote on benefits changes, vote on work rules), each as a separate ratify/reject question. Or you can do a single up-or-down vote on the entire agreement. It's your choice based on your organization's process.
ElectionChamp provides secret ballot voting with authenticated, one-member-one-vote enforcement and a timestamped audit trail. Specific legal requirements vary by jurisdiction and contract language, so consult your union counsel for your situation.
If members vote to reject, you have a clear, documented result showing the exact margin and turnout. Your negotiating team returns to the bargaining table, and when a revised agreement is reached, you run a new ratification vote. You can create as many elections as needed. Each produces its own independent documentation.
Absolutely. The ratify/reject format works for any binding member decision: contract ratification, strike authorization, memoranda of understanding, return-to-work agreements. The process is the same: present the question, collect the vote, document the outcome.
ElectionChamp sends invitations by email and by text message. If you have members' phone numbers, they get a text with their voting link in addition to, or instead of, email. Reminders you send from the dashboard go out on both channels. For ratification votes where participation matters, using both channels reaches more members.
No. Results open only to you and any observers you add, and only when voting ends, unless you chose to watch the count live. No one can see an individual ballot. You decide when and how results are shared, and ElectionChamp never shares them with a third party.
More Than Contract Votes
Board of Directors Elections
Elect board members with candidate bios
Bylaw Amendments & Policy Votes
Formal member approval for rule changes
Budget & Fee Approvals
Member vote on budgets and assessments
Officer & Leadership Elections
President, chair, treasurer races
Nominations
Collect candidate names online
Polls, Surveys & Motions
Non-binding polls and formal motions
Get Your Contract Ratified the Right Way
Set up in about 10 minutes. Free for up to 20 voters. No credit card required.
Questions? support@electionchamp.com