Increase Voter Turnout With Voting Reminders


Voter turnout, or lack thereof, remains a crucial concern in all elections. Low voter turnout can be especially damaging for member organizations, since these institutions require full participation to operate most effectively and in line with member wishes. For this reason, SBS can incorporate participation reminders into its services, utilizing everything from emails and postcards to special letters intended to maximize turnout in organizational elections.

Data from around the world shows election reminders can increase voter turnout and increase voting response rate with email reminders. In fact, the greater the number of reminders, the more likely it is members will vote. Each round of participation reminders historically increases voter turnout by an average of approximately 5%. Organizations hoping to maximize voter response have a clear solution.

Strategic Methods for the Best Results


While voting reminders clearly influence voter turnout, they need to be designed strategically. Different types of voters will respond to different reminders. SBS offers voting reminders in a range of forms to work for every type of voter, including:


A voter who is comfortable with their smartphone might value an iCalendar reminder, while a less tech-savvy voter may prefer a letter or postcard sent in the mail. We carefully assess your voter pool to understand what reminder methods will have the most impact. In addition to choosing the right reminders, timing plays a role. Individuals are more likely to respond to these reminders at certain times. When developing a reminder strategy, SBS considers the best times for the highest response rate from your voters.

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

Customize Your Election Based on Your Priorities


At SBS, we provide the tools you need for a successful election. Our voting reminders are one of many add-on services you can include in your election to encourage participation and get the most value from the process. Our other add-on services include:


When designing your election, we'll collaborate with you to uncover your priorities and determine which of these services align with your goals.

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:

Icon of three people with a line graph above them, representing election analytics

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
Icon of a square QR code, representing scannable codes for ballots and resources

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
Icon of a webpage with a login form, representing single sign-on access

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
Icon of a calendar with an envelope overlay, representing voting participation reminders

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 are voting reminders?

Voting/Participation reminders are targeted alerts sent to members to encourage them to vote. Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) provides these through multiple channels—including email, text, postal mail, and calendar alerts—to overcome "voter amnesia" and drive higher turnout.

Why are reminders necessary for an election?

Reminders keep the election top-of-mind for busy members. We use them to reach a diverse voter pool, ensuring that every member is aware of the election and has the information needed to participate before the deadline.

What is the goal of using a multi-channel reminder strategy?

The goal is to maximize engagement by reaching members where they are most active. SBS offers a strategic cadence of notifications across various platforms to ensure no member misses the opportunity to have their voice heard.

What are iCalendar alerts for elections?

An iCalendar alert is a digital reminder that a voter can add to their personal calendar. They are used to provide real-time notifications about the voting window, ensuring the deadline remains visible to the member throughout their day.

Key Features

What types of reminder methods are available?

SBS offers several options: personalized emails, automated text messages (SMS), traditional postal mailers, and iCalendar alerts that put the election deadline directly on a member's digital calendar.

How do digital reminders simplify the voting process?

Email and text reminders can include secure auto-login links. These allow voters to bypass the need for usernames or passwords and access their specific ballot with a single click.

Can reminders be personalized for individual members?

Yes. SBS creates personalized communications that can include the member's name and specific voting instructions. This personalization makes the reminders more relevant and significantly increases the likelihood of participation.

Security & Compliance

Is member contact data protected during the reminder process?

Yes. SBS adheres to strict data privacy standards and is SOC 2 compliant. All member data used for reminders is handled securely and kept confidential.

Do automated reminders comply with data privacy regulations?

Yes. SBS ensures that all automated communications, including emails and texts, are delivered through secure, compliant systems that prioritize the protection of member information and election integrity.

Turn to SBS for Your Next Election

SBS makes elections more manageable and accessible with a range of voting solutions, from real-time voting software to combination elections. Our combination elections are a full-service solution where our team runs your election with various voting methods, such as online, onsite and mobile voting. Use our voting reminders as an optional add-on to increase voter turnout and make sure every member of your organization has a voice. Contact us today to get started.

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