Nomination & Petition Software


Candidate nomination, electronic petitions, and scholarship administration can be challenging and complex. In the past, traditional approaches relied heavily on manual paperwork, resulting in substantial expenses for ink, toner, and paper. These outdated workflows were also time-consuming and personnel-intensive, further stretching organizational resources. Moreover, these methods were not candidate-friendly, as the forms and processes could be confusing and overwhelming, ultimately reducing motivation to participate.

Digital nomination, online petition software, and an online candidate nomination system from Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) solve those issues.

About Our Petition and Nomination Software

SBS has developed our nomination and petition software as a turnkey solution. Ideal uses for our nomination and petition software include: candidate filings, award and scholarship applications, and municipal candidate applications

Our full-featured platform provides:

Candidate nomination applications

We simplify the application submission process through the online candidate nomination system portal. Candidates add their details, photos and more according to the parameters you set.

A dedicated website

Our experts design and create your nominations and petitions site for you. We oversee the entire project, so there's no need to disrupt staff from their regular duties.

Online petition signature collection

Candidates can quickly and easily capture petition signatures through email and our electronic signing technology. If they already have a paper form, they can upload it to the platform directly.

Personalized candidate journeys

We've incorporated branching logic into the software to create a better end-user experience. This feature seamlessly guides candidates through the process based on their responses to your custom questions.

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

Benefits of Our Online Nomination Platform


We stand apart from other digital nomination and online petition software in multiple ways.

SBS undergoes independent audits to ensure data privacy compliance with SOC 2. We also implement numerous protocols to safeguard against threat actors. These proactive steps mean you can have greater confidence in our security, reliability, and certified outcomes.

We've crafted our online nominations software with a focus on and commitment to ease-of-use for users of all types. Our interfaces feature intuitive operation and navigation for a frustration-free experience.

Additionally, the SBS nominations platform offers extreme convenience. Candidates can self-register from any connected device when it works best for them. They can also enjoy the functionality of saving their progress and resuming their journey later.

At SBS, we have a large, experienced team with the resources to provide individualized service and support. Our experts are available through numerous channels, including web chat, phone and email. We're committed to creating superior experiences for candidates and administrators at every process step.

Our platform is fully customizable to your organizational needs. You control the questions, required fields, and word counts for standardized data across the candidate pool. You can also track the candidate journey from start to finish, export data as needed, and configure custom reminders.

Find The Right Voting Solution For Your Organization

Real-Time Voting

BEST FOR:

  • Industry Associations
  • HOA & POA
  • Clubs
  • Churches and Religious Groups
  • Fraternities and Sororities
  • Educational Institutions

Why: Live voting, quorum tracking, and instant results are most valuable in formal meetings and governance-heavy environments.

Fully Managed

BEST FOR:

  • Associations
  • Cooperatives
  • Credit Unions
  • Farm Credit Associations
  • Mutual Insurance Companies
  • Pension Funds
  • Unions

Why: These groups often have higher complexity, higher stakes, or regulatory sensitivity and benefit from white-glove support.

Online Voting Tools

BEST FOR:

Why:These are your most flexible, scalable solutions and work across every industry we serve.

Onsite Voting

BEST FOR:

  • Cooperatives
  • Farm Credit Associations 
  • Nonprofits
  • Unions

Why: Especially well-suited for organizations whose bylaws or regulations require voting to take place in person or at a meeting.

Drive-Thru Voting

BEST FOR:

  • Cooperatives 
  • Unions

Why: Drive-thru voting allows organizations that require in-person voting to maintain compliance while offering the convenience of electronic ballots, faster participation, and quicker, more accurate results.

Paper Ballots

BEST FOR:

  • Cooperatives
  • Government
  • Mutual Insurance Companies
  • Unions
  • Nonprofits

Why: These groups often have voter populations that prefer or require traditional voting methods.

Hybrid Elections

BEST FOR:

  • Associations
  • Clubs
  • Cooperatives
  • Credit Unions
  • Unions

Why:  Hybrid elections balance accessibility and tradition - ideal for organizations with diverse member preferences.

Do-It-Yourself Elections

BEST FOR:

  • HOA & POA
  • Country Clubs
  • Sports Clubs and Leagues
  • Industry Associations
  • Unions

Why: Smaller teams or less complex elections benefit from speed, control, and lower cost.

Nominations

BEST FOR:

  • Associations
  • Cooperatives
  • Credit Unions
  • Unions

Why: Structured leadership pipelines and governance cycles make nominations especially important in these markets. All member-based organizations can benefit from digital nomination tools.

Petition Collection

BEST FOR:

  • Mutual Insurance Companies
  • Credit Unions
  • Pension Funds 
  • Cooperatives
  • Government
  • HOA & POA

Why: Petition workflows are common in rule changes, member initiatives, and labor-related processes.

Surveys

BEST FOR:

Why: Feedback, engagement, and benchmarking are universally relevant.

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:

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Election Analytics

Election analytics turn your data into actionable insights, helping you analyze member behavior and improve participation.

Explore Election Analytics Features
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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
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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
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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
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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

Frequently Asked Questions

Basics

What is digital nomination and petition software?

Digital nomination and petition software is a centralized online platform that replaces paper-based workflows for candidate filings, award applications, and petitions. Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) uses this tool to automate intake and reduce administrative work.

What are the common uses for this software?

The platform is designed for candidate nomination applications, electronic petition signature collection, and managing award or scholarship submissions.

Key Features

How do nomination and petition tools streamline election processes?

These tools simplify the election process by replacing paper forms and spreadsheets with a centralized, digital workflow. Administrators can view all nominations in one place, track submission status, and manage both electronic and paper signatures together. The platform also supports automated confirmation, thank-you, and reminder emails, helping keep candidates and applicants on track. Custom nomination, scholarship, or application forms can be built with required questions and flexible formatting, reducing errors and administrative follow-up.

How is the candidate application process simplified?

SBS provides an online portal where candidates can upload details, files, images, videos, and more. Applications can be customized to fit each organization’s requirements, ensuring candidates provide exactly what’s needed - no more, no less.

Is it possible to save progress during a nomination submission?

Yes. Nomination submissions are automatically saved as candidates work. Candidates can start from any device, leave at any time, and return later to continue where they left off - no manual saving required.

What level of customization is available for administrators?

Administrators can set custom questions, required fields, and word counts. The platform also provides tools to track the candidate journey and export data for easy management.

Can candidates collect signatures for petitions online?

Yes. Candidates can capture signatures via email and electronic signing. Our tools allow users to upload physical signature forms directly into the digital system.

Security & Compliance

How is data privacy ensured for candidate information?

All candidate data is protected using Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption, the same security standard used by U.S. banks and financial institutions. This ensures data cannot be viewed, intercepted, or altered while being transmitted, keeping candidate information private and secure.

How are nomination sites managed?

While SBS handles the setup and technical configuration of the nomination site, your organization remains in control. You define the requirements and questions, and administrators have secure access to oversee submissions, monitor progress, and communicate directly with candidates during the nomination process.

Are these digital tools reliable for certified outcomes?

Yes. By using a secure, third-party audited system, SBS ensures that all nomination and petition results are reliable, valid, and defensible.

Increase Accessibility and Raise Engagement With SBS

We've leveraged our experience with all types of governance nominations to create a robust platform that simplifies the process for you and your candidates.

Contact us for more information, or request a free demonstration to see how easy we make it.

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