Electronic voting (e-voting) is increasingly used in various settings, from government elections to corporate boardrooms. But how does it stack up against traditional voting methods like voice voting or a show of hands? Let’s delve into the pros and cons of e-voting, particularly in the context of business, town, and organizational meetings.
Pros of Electronic Voting
- Accuracy: E-voting systems minimize errors in counting votes. This is particularly crucial in large meetings, elections with multiple candidates, or contentious resolutions where a clear result can’t be determined by traditional voting methods.
- Speed: Tallying votes electronically is significantly (5-6 times) faster than manual counting, increasing meeting efficiency, and often shaving hours, even days off the meeting.
- Secrecy: Anonymous voting is available, allowing individuals to vote without fear of pressure or judgment, and eliminating herd mentality when voting.
- Auditability: Many e-voting systems provide audit trails, enabling verification of results and enhancing trust in the voting process.
- Accessibility: E-voting can facilitate participation for individuals with disabilities, enabling them to cast their votes independently and privately. Many providers of electronic voting, including Meridia’s TownVOTE, provide solutions for hybrid voting, enabling participants to vote both at home with their mobile devices and in-person at the voting venue as if both parties were in the same room.
Cons of Electronic Voting
Cost: Implementing e-voting systems can involve upfront costs for hardware, software, and training.
SOLUTION
Considering the time-saving benefits, quicker-than-usual consensus, ability to easily validate the voting results, and many other direct, and indirect benefits, many find making the switch to electronic voting to be well worth the initial investment.
Here are some of our client’s Testimonials that talk about cutting costs, increasing efficiency and improving the meeting flow.
Technical Issues: System malfunctions or technical glitches can disrupt the voting process.
SOLUTION
Meridia offers on-site technical support to mitigate potential issues and ensure a smooth voting experience throughout the meeting.
Using a checklist ensures that your equipment is tested and cleared for operation.
Having a backup computer and trained Operator, spare base receiver, extra keypads, and other redundancies helps ease concerns of a failure during the event.
Security Concerns: Interference, disruption or complete disabling of the voting system are the most commonly cited.
SOLUTION
Commonsense security measures, such as security perimeter around the voting area, tight control over voting device registration and collection, and technical measures such as encryption, are crucial to mitigate such risks.
Digital Divide: Unequal access to technology or digital literacy skills may create barriers to participation in e-voting.
SOLUTION
Meridia offers customization of the voting keypads that only feature buttons for “Yes, No, and Abstain,” which are clearly labeled and color-coded. These keypads also include displays that visually confirm each vote. For individuals with visual disabilities, Braille overlays are also available to ensure that every participant can vote comfortably.
Comparison with Traditional Methods
- Voice Voting: Commonly used in smaller meetings, voice voting is quick and informal and works really well for non-contentious issues, or with clear, majority votes.
However, it can be difficult or impossible to discern close votes, 2/3, 4/5 or 9/10 votes and may be susceptible to bias or misinterpretation.
- Show of Hands: Another simple method, a show of hands provides a visual representation of the vote. Yet, this method lacks anonymity and can be influenced by social pressure or the perceived majority opinion, encouraging ‘herd voting’
Real-World Examples
Town & City Council Meetings
Many city & town councils, county boards, utility boards, and other civic organizations utilize e-voting systems to record votes on ordinances and resolutions, ensuring accuracy and transparency in public decision-making.
Town Meetings
While voice voting and show of hands are still prevalent in some town meetings, larger towns may adopt e-voting to manage participation and streamline the voting process. As of fall 2024, over seventy five New England towns are utilizing over 42,500 keypads and Meridia’s TownVOTE in their town meetings.
Board and Association Meetings
Corporate boards and professional associations often use e-voting for elections, policy decisions, and other important matters, ensuring confidentiality and efficiency. The US house of Representatives are currently utilizing TownVOTE in their committee markup sessions.
Tribal Board Meetings
Tribal councils may employ e-voting to facilitate elections and decision-making, particularly in larger tribes with geographically dispersed members.
Church Assemblies
Increasingly, churches utilize e-voting for electing church leaders, approving budgets, or deciding on significant changes, promoting inclusivity and accurate vote counting.
Conclusion
Electronic voting offers several advantages over traditional methods, particularly in terms of accuracy, speed, and secrecy. However, it’s essential to address potential challenges like cost, security, and accessibility. The choice between e-voting and traditional methods depends on the specific needs and context of the organization or meeting.
