FAQ

Common Questions

I am interested in learning more about Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS). How do I learn more about the company and its services?

Please click here and fill out the form as completely as you can. A SBS Staff Member will be in touch shortly to consult with your organization’s needs and goals.

How long has SBS been in business and what type of organizations do you serve?

SBS was founded in 1990. We serve all types of member-based organizations, non-profits and businesses with voting and election needs. This includes cooperatives, associations, financial institutions, unions, government agencies and commercial business. We have an unparalleled understanding of the voting process and membership services. If your organization needs to ensure that it is connecting with membership, please contact us here or call 800-974-8099 for a free consultation.

How can Survey & Ballot Systems help improve election response rate?

We are the election experts. Some of our members comment that turning over the project to a third-party vendor is one of the wisest decisions they have made with their election.

SBS has over 22 years of election experience. Whether it is a promotion plan for your election or adjusting the way members are able to vote, we will work with you to achieve your election goals. Click here to learn more or request a consultation with one of our election experts.

I need help with my current SBS election or participating in a SBS managed election. Where do I go?

Please click here to be directed to our support page. One of our SBS Support Team members will be happy to help with your election or membership service project. You can get in touch with us via email, phone or web chat (Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm CST).

I am interested in online voting. What type of security can I expect with an SBS managed election?

The security of your election data and safety of your member information is our number one priority. SBS invests the time and resources to ensure that every election utilizes the most secure web framework available.

Several layers of security are employed to protect your SBS election. The voting website is hosted on our secure server. Your election website will only be accessible to authorized members through unique voter logins and passwords. Your ballot is transmitted from your computer to the balloting datacenter using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), the industry-standard encryption technology used to conduct financial transactions on the Web. The voting website employs passive and active network monitoring and security monitoring services to detect and prevent unauthorized access. The ballots are stored in a secure datacenter with controlled, monitored access 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Your election and membership information is serious business – we treat it that way.

How can the online election site confirm my identity?

You will be provided with a unique voter login ID and password, which will be used by the voting website to confirm your identity.

How can the election website prevent voting more than once?

A member’s login information will be disabled immediately after submitting the web ballot, preventing the member from logging in to the voting website again.

If I vote online, how will I know that my ballot has been received?

After submitting your ballot, you will receive an e-mail message confirming that it has been received.

If I make a mistake while voting online, can I change it?

Yes. It is very easy to review and change your votes before your ballot is officially submitted for processing. After you make your selections, they will be displayed on a confirmation screen. At that time, you may either change your selections, or you may submit your ballot. Also, the website will verify that you have voted within the correct parameters — for example, that you did not over vote and will advise you of any corrections that must be made. This additional safeguard, which cannot be offered if you vote by mail, will ensure the validity of your ballot.

After you submit your ballot, however, it cannot be changed. Submitting your ballot on the web is analogous to placing your printed ballot in the mailbox; once your ballot has been mailed, it cannot be changed.

How does paper balloting work?

SBS provides a proactive procedure to control accuracy even before an election opens. All paper voting materials are subjected to numerous rounds of language proofing. Test batches (mock elections) will be conducted manually to ensure proper functionality of ballots.

Ballot packages are sent to all eligible members. Members utilize the materials as directed and return the completed ballots by mail.

Once materials have been received by SBS, ballots are scanned and verified to ensure they meet the specified election criteria. All ballots are then checked for unusual marks or paper damage. Ballots will then be audited a final time before the data advances to the reporting stage.

Throughout this procedure, paper ballots are secured to ensure chain of custody. The result is an auditable process with guaranteed and certified results.

Do you have quality control procedures in place?

Yes. A summary of our procedures, including data receipt, proofing, test batches, verification, auditing and certification can be provided. In addition to numerous testing functions, trial elections are conducted manually. When an election is completed, data is audited a final time before it advances to the reporting stage. You receive high-quality, accurate results – guaranteed.

How can I get information on pricing?

Different organizations have different needs. We build an election solution or membership service project based on your goals. We have online voting software solutions starting at $999, but pricing varies with project type and membership size. The best way to obtain pricing information is to contact one of our SBS consultants. We will be happy to discuss the needs of your organization and work to provide a cost-effective solution.