Hybrid Elections
No two elections are identical, nor are your voters. Conducting a combination election can help meet the needs of your diverse membership base. Combination elections offer multiple voting methods, increasing your participation and empowering members of all abilities to be heard.
Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) can help you conduct successful combination elections with our flexible voting solutions.
About Our Hybrid Voting Systems
SBS facilitates friction-free combination elections through robust technology and a proven, auditable process.
A Full-Service Solution
SBS oversees the essential steps in the combination election process as part of our full-service support. Our experts: design and distribute your ballots, handle quality assurance, tabulate and report results, and certify the outcomes
Testimonials
"SBS was incredibly professional, and highlighted exactly how real-time voting could work for our situation. Real-time voting enables our Board of Directors to cast their votes in a matter of seconds, with results instantly tabulated, as well as being able to adjust rounds of voting on the fly with runoffs. After the vote, our board couldn't believe - this is an incredible improvement, we should've done this years ago."
- Adam Brooks, Association of Professional Flight Attendants
Meeting Your Needs
We tailor our combination elections around your organization's voting goals and needs. As a result, we can blend multiple voting methods into one election according to your members' preferences, including: online voting, mobile voting, drive-thru voting, paper ballots, and onsite/in-person voting.
Our team can implement each option above as a stand-alone solution or in any desired combination. The SBS platform is completely scalable and can adapt to an unlimited number of eligible voters.
Common Applications
- Elections with multiple ballot-casting methods
- Complex polling, such as events with weighted or rank-choice voting
- Organizations seeking a trusted third-party partner to protect election integrity.
- Proxies
- Customized election specifications
Optional Add-On Services
SBS offers a suite of complementary services aimed at enhancing member engagement and ensuring an enjoyable experience for both administrators and voters. Our options include:
Ensure Boost participation by sending personalized emails to remind members to cast their ballots.
Add auto-login links in emails to simplify online voter access.
Use rich media to make a statement or communicate vital voting information.
Make sign-on a breeze with fast, simple QR codes.
Send requests to any user to add a calendar appointment, regardless of their operating system.
Boost voter participation with streamlined SSO access. SSO allows members to effortlessly reach their ballot with just one click, eliminating the need for remembering or creating new login credentials.
Keep voters informed with mailers like letters, meeting notices, and postcards.
Analyze key metrics and make sense of the noise with breakdown reports, voter data, and more.
Find The Right Voting Solution For Your Organization
Additional Election Services From Survey & Ballot Systems
At Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS), we’ll collaborate with you to discover your priorities and determine which of our solutions align with your election goals. We also offer several additional election services to reduce your administrative load, increase voter participation, and improve member satisfaction. Here are the services we offer:
Election Analytics
Election analytics turn your data into actionable insights, helping you analyze member behavior and improve participation.
Explore Election Analytics Features
Embedded Login Links
Expand participation with embedded login links. When you opt for this service, we’ll send auto-embedded login links to your voters’ emails that takes them directly to their ballot — no username or password setup needed.
Discover the Power of Embedded Login
QR Codes
Incorporating QR codes on election resources, like fliers, posters, and mail-in ballots, can direct members straight to your voting webpage or directly into their ballot.
Harness the Impact of QR Codes
Single Sign-On
Single sign-on (SSO) significantly simplifies online voting by allowing members to log in through your website’s member-only portal using their existing credentials. Once logged in, voters are directed to the election website and their ballot — no need for new usernames or passwords.
Simplify with Single Sign-On
Voting Participation Reminders
SBS offers targeted voter reminders through postal mail, iCalendar alerts, automated texts, and email notifications. Ideal for member organizations with a diverse voter pool, these voting reminders are a proven way to increase participation in elections.
Enhance Voter Engagement
Advantages of Our Hybrid Voting Systems and Services
Turnkey combination election services from SBS provide multiple advantages, including:
- Cutting-edge security: We use Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption, comprehensive monitoring tools, and SOC 2-compliant protocols to ensure data privacy and protect against cyber incidents.
- Accessibility confidence: Our technology conforms to Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Livestream tabulation: Administrators can watch SBS teams open, scan, and review ballots during paper vote counting on a secure livestream.
- Dedicated support: Our experts are available to assist with every phase of your combination election to help your organization reach its goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Basics
What is a hybrid election?
A hybrid election is a system that offers multiple voting methods to meet the needs of a diverse membership base. Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) provides flexible solutions that allow organizations to blend different voting channels into a single, unified election process.
What types of elections are best suited for a hybrid approach?
Hybrid elections are ideal for organizations with diverse or geographically dispersed memberships, where not all voters can or want to participate the same way. They work especially well for annual meetings, contested board elections, bylaw amendments, or any vote where achieving quorum is critical. A hybrid approach allows members to vote by mail, online, or in person - maximizing participation while maintaining a single, secure, and auditable election process.
Why should an organization choose a hybrid voting model?
Hybrid elections empower members to be heard by allowing them to participate in the way that is most convenient for them. Offering multiple methods is a proven way to increase voter participation and ensure that tech-savvy members and those who prefer traditional methods are equally accommodated.
How do hybrid election solutions combine paper and online voting?
Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) can blend multiple voting methods—including online, mobile, paper ballots, and onsite voting—into one seamless election. The platform is completely scalable and uses a proven, auditable process to ensure that all votes, regardless of the method used, are accurately combined and reported.
Key Features
What services are included in a full-service hybrid election?
SBS oversees every essential step, including ballot design and distribution, quality assurance, and the tabulation and reporting of results. We also provide official certification of the outcomes to ensure the election is valid and auditable.
What engagement tools are available to boost participation?
To enhance the voter experience, SBS offers a suite of add-on services such as personalized reminder emails, one-click secure access via auto-login links, QR code logins, and iCalendar reminders. We can also include rich media, such as candidate videos, directly on the digital ballot.
Is there support for members who need physical mailings?
Yes. SBS offers flexible support for members who require physical mailings. Organizations can choose how paper ballots are distributed - whether sent to all members, only to those who request them, or to members whose electronic voting invitation emails bounce. SBS also provides customized mailers, including letters, meeting notices, and postcards, to ensure all voters receive the information and materials they need to participate.
Security & Compliance
How is data security handled in a hybrid election?
SBS utilizes cutting-edge security measures, including Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption and comprehensive monitoring tools. Our protocols are SOC 2 compliant, ensuring the highest standards for data privacy and protection against cyber incidents.
How can administrators verify the accuracy of the paper ballot count?
SBS uses documented, multi-step quality control procedures to verify the accuracy of all paper ballot counts. Ballots are logged, tracked, and reconciled throughout the tabulation process, with multiple checks to confirm voter eligibility, ballot integrity, and accurate counting.
Partner With SBS for Combination Election Technology and Support
Our platform simplifies the complexities of conducting a combination election on your own. We've earned a history of success with our advanced technology, decades of experience, and commitment to individualized service.
Request a custom quote today, or contact a team member for assistance.
