Online voting has moved from “nice to have” to essential for many associations, unions, universities, clubs, nonprofits, and corporate boards. Simply Voting is one of the better-known platforms in this space, offering a hosted election system designed to make ballots easier to launch, voters easier to manage, and results easier to certify.
TLDR: Simply Voting is a practical, security-focused online election platform best suited for organizations that need dependable elections without building their own voting infrastructure. For example, a 1,200-member association could use it to run a board election, send unique voter credentials, monitor turnout, and publish certified results within hours of closing the ballot. Its strongest advantages are flexible ballot setup, voter authentication, auditability, and support for mixed election types. Pricing is usually quote-based or dependent on election size and services, so it is worth comparing against tools like ElectionBuddy, eBallot, OpaVote, and Election Runner before committing.
What Is Simply Voting?
Simply Voting is a web-based voting platform used to conduct secure elections, referendums, surveys, officer elections, board votes, student government elections, and similar decision-making processes. Instead of relying on paper ballots, spreadsheets, or manually counted emails, organizations can build an online ballot, invite eligible voters, authenticate each voter, and collect votes through a controlled digital process.
The platform is especially useful for groups where trust matters. A casual poll can be handled by many tools, but a formal election needs more: one voter, one vote, a tamper-resistant audit trail, clear reporting, and a process that can stand up to scrutiny from members or stakeholders.
Key Features
Simply Voting’s features are built around the full election lifecycle: preparing the ballot, managing voters, collecting votes, and sharing final results.
- Custom ballot design: Administrators can create ballots for candidate races, referendums, bylaw amendments, ranked-choice voting, yes/no questions, multi-seat contests, and weighted voting scenarios.
- Voter list management: Organizations can upload voter lists, assign credentials, segment voters into groups, and restrict ballot access based on eligibility.
- Unique voter authentication: Each voter receives login credentials or a secure voting link, helping prevent duplicate voting and unauthorized access.
- Real-time turnout tracking: Election managers can monitor who has voted without seeing how individuals voted, which is important for privacy.
- Email invitations and reminders: Automated messages can encourage turnout and reduce the administrative work involved in chasing voters.
- Anonymous voting options: The system can separate voter identity from ballot choices, supporting elections where confidentiality is required.
- Results reporting: Once polls close, Simply Voting can generate reports with vote totals, turnout data, and audit information.
- Multiple election formats: The platform can support straightforward majority voting as well as more complex models, depending on the organization’s rules.
One of the platform’s most valuable strengths is that it balances usability with formal election controls. Election administrators do not need to be software engineers, but they can still run elections with a level of structure far beyond a generic form builder.
User Experience: Simple, but Not Generic
For voters, the experience is generally straightforward: receive an invitation, click a secure link or enter credentials, review the ballot, make selections, and submit. That matters because low-friction voting can increase participation. If a member can vote in two minutes from a phone, turnout is often better than when they must mail a ballot or attend a meeting.
For administrators, Simply Voting is more procedural. You define election rules, upload voters, configure the ballot, test it, open voting, monitor turnout, and close the election. The interface is not necessarily flashy, but it is designed around clarity and control. In election software, that is usually more important than visual flair.
Security and Trust
Security is one of the biggest reasons organizations consider Simply Voting. Elections are sensitive because even a small error can damage confidence in the outcome. Simply Voting focuses on several layers of protection:
- Encrypted connections: Voters access ballots through secure web connections, helping protect data in transit.
- Credential-based access: Only authorized voters can participate, and each credential is typically limited to one completed ballot.
- Vote privacy: In confidential elections, voter identity can be separated from vote content.
- Audit trails: Election activity can be logged, creating a record for review if questions arise.
- Administrative controls: Election managers can limit access to sensitive settings and reports.
No online system can eliminate every risk, so organizations should still follow good practices. That includes cleaning voter lists before launch, testing ballots thoroughly, using strong administrator passwords, limiting admin access, and documenting the election process. The best election platform cannot fix unclear bylaws or an inaccurate member database.
Pricing: What to Expect
Simply Voting’s pricing can vary depending on election size, number of voters, required features, support level, and whether the organization needs managed election services. Rather than assuming a universal price, buyers should request a current quote and compare it against their election requirements.
Common pricing factors include:
- Number of eligible voters: Larger voter lists usually cost more.
- Election complexity: Ranked ballots, weighted votes, multiple constituencies, or custom rules may affect cost.
- Frequency: A one-time election may be priced differently from recurring annual or monthly elections.
- Support needs: Some organizations want full-service setup, while others are comfortable managing elections themselves.
- Additional channels: If phone voting, mail-in components, or hybrid voting support is required, pricing may increase.
For budgeting, think in terms of cost per eligible voter and cost per election. A small nonprofit running one board election may prioritize affordability, while a national association with 50,000 voters may prioritize support, reliability, and auditability over the lowest price.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Strong fit for formal elections where accuracy and trust matter.
- Supports many ballot types and election rules.
- Good voter authentication and turnout tracking.
- Useful audit and reporting features.
- Scales from smaller organizations to large member bodies.
Cons:
- Pricing may require a quote, making quick comparison harder.
- May feel more structured than necessary for casual polls.
- Election setup still requires careful planning and clean voter data.
- Advanced election rules may require extra testing or support.
Top Simply Voting Competitors
Simply Voting is not the only option. The right competitor depends on budget, election complexity, support expectations, and the level of security required.
- ElectionBuddy: A popular alternative for associations, schools, HOAs, and nonprofits. It is often praised for ease of setup and a friendly interface, with options for both self-managed and assisted elections.
- eBallot: Strong for organizations that need secure voting with compliance-conscious features, detailed reporting, and administrative oversight.
- OpaVote: Often attractive for smaller groups or organizations interested in ranked-choice voting and transparent tally methods. It can be cost-effective, though it may feel more technical.
- Election Runner: A simpler, budget-friendly option for clubs, classrooms, and smaller organizations. It is easy to use but may not offer the same depth for complex governance elections.
- AssociationVoting: Designed with member organizations in mind, including professional associations and societies that need recurring election workflows.
Who Should Use Simply Voting?
Simply Voting is a strong choice for organizations that need an election to be more than a popularity poll. It is ideal for:
- Professional associations electing boards or officers.
- Unions managing leadership votes or contract ratifications.
- Universities running student government elections.
- Nonprofits voting on governance changes.
- Corporations or cooperatives handling shareholder or member votes.
It may be less necessary for informal feedback, quick team preferences, or low-stakes surveys. In those cases, a simpler survey tool may be enough. But when election legitimacy matters, specialized voting software is worth the investment.
Final Verdict
Simply Voting offers a mature, reliable approach to online elections. Its appeal is not that it makes voting flashy; it makes voting organized, auditable, and easier to trust. The platform’s feature set covers most needs for associations, nonprofits, unions, educational institutions, and member-based organizations.
The main thing to watch is pricing transparency and fit. Before choosing Simply Voting, define your voter count, election rules, privacy needs, reporting requirements, and support expectations. Then compare quotes and demos from at least two or three competitors. If your organization values secure access, clean administration, and credible results, Simply Voting is a platform well worth shortlisting.
