8 Election Marketing Tips Every Association Should Use

Last Updated on December 4, 2025 by Hannah Seeley

Need election marketing tools for your organization? Try these best practices to increase voter turnout:

• Review last year’s election strategy
• Create clear talking points
• Let data guide decisions
• Promote on your website
• Embrace social media
• Personalize where you can
• Simplify the voting experience
• Send post-election surveys

Whether you’re part of an HOA, food co-op, credit union, or other type of association, member engagement is non-negotiable. You’re here to serve members’ needs, but that requires members stepping up to the plate and making their wishes known. That’s why elections are so important: they fill board seats and approve bylaws, but also give members a voice in the future of the organization.

But getting members to actually vote can be harder than it sounds. Competing priorities, confusing processes, and a lack of awareness often get in the way of a strong turnout. So, what can you do to increase voter turnout?

Election Marketing Tips and Tools

Election marketing tools are the key to boosting votes while increasing overall member engagement. In this guide, we’ll share practical tips, tools, and strategies to run elections that reinforce trust. For more tips, download the free SBS Election Marketing 101 guide to turn members into voters.

Review What You Did Last Year

Before diving into new election marketing strategies, it’s critical to look back at what you did last year. Ask yourself:

• What channels did you use? Did members engage on these channels?
• What messages resonated with members?
• Where did engagement fall flat?

Repeating what went right saves time, while avoiding what didn’t work preserves resources. For example, if members responded well to last year’s email blasts, consider incorporating them into this year’s strategy for promoting member elections. But if your direct mail flyers went unnoticed, route those resources to a different channel this year.

It can be tough to find the time to conduct a post-mortem like this, but if your association really needs members to engage with this election, it’s non-negotiable. By analyzing past performance, your association can craft smarter, more targeted election marketing that improves engagement.

Create Clear Talking Points for This Election

Before you start posting on social media or sending emails, you need a clear direction for your election marketing. Nail down clear goals and talking points for this election before you do anything.

Decide upfront what you want members to know, feel, and do. Are you trying to highlight how board members shape the association’s future? Do you want to show how past elections led to meaningful improvements? Whatever your priorities are, clearly define them in talking points and repeat them frequently.

Chances are, you’ll promote the election across multiple channels. In that case, consistency matters most. Share your message across multiple channels – email, social media, your website, and print mailers – because members consume information in different ways. Just ensure the core message remains the same, so that regardless of where members see it, they hear the same call to action: why their vote matters and what’s at stake for them personally.

Use Data To Decide What and When To Post

When it comes to election marketing, accurate data is your best guide. If you’re still relying on outdated member information, you risk missing out on votes. Keeping your database current ensures you know not only who you’re reaching but also how they want to hear from you.

One of the simplest ways to collect this data is by running surveys before the election or capturing details through website forms and event sign-ups. These touchpoints give you a clearer picture of your members’ communication preferences and help you plan smarter campaigns.

Not sure what members prefer? Survey & Ballot Systems conducted a study and found that members prefer these marketing methods:

• 39.5% of respondents prefer brief mentions in monthly or weekly newsletters
• 24.2% of respondents prefer social media updates
• 24.2% of respondents prefer email election reminders specifically about voting, not couched within a newsletter
• 9.1% of respondents prefer SMS or text message reminders
• 3% of respondents prefer direct mail or special letters
• 0% of respondents prefer website announcements

Your members likely prefer a mix of these channels. Our study is a great starting point, but you should always design election marketing campaigns around your members’ preferences. While some respond well to email election reminders, others rely more on social media updates, newsletters, or SMS alerts. By letting data guide both the timing and type of outreach, you’ll increase the chances that your message lands where members are most likely to act.

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Promote the Election on Your Website

As you can see by the results of our study, respondents didn’t prefer website announcements for election promotions. Still, that doesn’t mean you should ignore promoting the election on your website at all.

For example, if a member first hears about the election in your newsletter and then deletes it, they can visit your website to refresh their memory on important due dates, candidates, or the voting process.

Your website is prime real estate, so make sure your election information has a strong presence here. Start with high-visibility features like:

• Banners on the homepage
• Dedicated landing pages
• Pop-up notifications that highlight key dates and instructions

If you’re using online voting, place a direct link to the ballot on the homepage to make participation as seamless as possible.

Take it a step further by transforming your site into an election information hub. Post candidate bios, election FAQ, and even short video walkthroughs explaining the voting process. This not only raises awareness but also builds trust by giving members all the tools they need to make an informed decision.

Plus, it reduces the likelihood that members will have questions on election day, which frees up your team to focus on member engagement.

Share Election Information via Social Media

If you want to meet members where they already spend their time, social media is your best tool. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn can drive awareness and, ultimately, voter turnout.

The key is to tailor content for each platform while maintaining consistent talking points. For example, you might post eye-catching graphics on Instagram, create interactive polls or election reminders on Facebook, and share more professional, detail-rich updates on LinkedIn.

Personalize Communication

The more personalized you can make your election marketing, the better you’ll grab members’ attention. Little touches matter more than you might think. Address members by name in emails and use automated email campaigns to send targeted reminders only to those who haven’t voted yet. This way, you don’t bombard early voters with unnecessary follow-ups, and undecided members get timely nudges that encourage participation.

Branding matters, too. A voting page with your logo and colors reassures members that they’re in the right place and voting securely. If possible, consider features like personalized ballots that make the experience feel tailored to each voter.

Simplify

Even the best marketing campaign in the world will flop if voting is too complex. Make both your marketing and the voting process as easy to understand as possible.

Start by giving members the information they need right where they are. For example, include candidate bios and photos directly in your election emails so they don’t have to hunt for details. If you’re using online voting, integrate this information into the ballot itself for a one-stop experience.

Instead of overwhelming members with bylaws and jargon, explain in plain language how a proposed change will directly affect them. You can also improve accessibility by offering options like proxy voting or a simple email link that takes members straight to their online ballot.

Always Send Post-Election Follow-Ups

Your election communication shouldn’t stop when the polls close. In fact, the way you follow up is just as important as how you market the election in the first place.

Send a post-election email blast thanking members for their participation. Then, share more granular details about the election, including:

• Turnout numbers
• Participation rates
• Final results

If there were bylaw amendments or other proposals on the ballot, explain exactly how those changes will affect members and when they’ll go into effect.

It’s also smart to view post-election communication as an opportunity to gather feedback. Sending a short survey can help you gauge engagement levels and understand how members feel about the association’s direction. These insights not only close the loop on the current election but also give you a head start on improving the next one.

Promoting Member Elections With Purpose

Running a successful election takes more than just setting a date and hoping members participate. Effective election marketing requires strategy, consistency, and empathy for your members. Follow the tips in this guide to increase turnout and build stronger trust with your members. And, for more guidance, download the free SBS Election Marketing 101 guide now.

Ready to simplify your next election? Partner with Survey & Ballot Systems to improve turnout.