Casting Your Vote

Step-by-step guide to participating in your union's democratic decisions. Your vote matters—here's how to make it count.

Finding Votes You Can Participate In

Method 1: Notifications

When a vote opens that you're eligible for, you'll get a notification:

• Click the notification to jump directly to the vote
• You'll also get reminders midway through and before close
• Final reminder sent 1 hour before voting closes (if you haven't voted)

Method 2: Governance Channel

Go to your union's governance channel (usually #motions or #governance):

• Active votes are pinned or at the top
• Each vote appears as a card showing status and deadline
• Click any vote card to see details

Method 3: Vote Dashboard

The governance widget shows all votes in one place:

• See all active votes you can participate in
• Filter by status: Open, Closing Soon, Upcoming
• Sort by deadline to see what needs attention first
• Check which ones you've already voted on

Step-by-Step: Voting Process

Step 1: Review the Motion

Click on the vote card to open details. Take time to review:

• Title and description: What are you voting on?
• Who proposed it: Which member created this motion?
• Attachments: Any documents, budgets, or supporting materials?
• Discussion thread: What are members saying about it?

Step 2: Check the Rules

Every vote displays its rules clearly:

• Quorum: What % of people need to vote?
• Threshold: What % of "yes" votes needed to pass?
• Ballot type: Secret or recorded?
• Time remaining: How long until voting closes?

Step 3: Open the Ballot

When you're ready to vote:

1. Click the "Cast Ballot" button on the vote card
2. The voting widget opens in a secure modal
3. You'll see the motion title and voting options

Step 4: Make Your Choice

The ballot format depends on the vote type:

Yes/No Motions (Most Common)

Choose one:

• Yes: I support this motion
• No: I oppose this motion
• Abstain: I'm participating but not taking a position

Elections with Ranked-Choice Voting

Rank candidates in order of preference:

1. See the list of candidates
2. Drag to reorder, or use the ranking buttons
3. Your first choice gets highest priority
4. You don't have to rank everyone—rank as many as you want

Approval Voting (Multi-Seat Elections)

Check all candidates you'd support:

• You can select as many or as few as you want
• Each checked candidate gets one "approval" from you
• Top N candidates by approval count win the seats

Multiple Choice Questions

For polls with several options:

• Select your preferred option
• Some polls allow multiple selections—instructions will be clear

Step 5: Review Your Ballot

Before submitting:

• Double-check your selection
• Make sure you chose what you intended
• Remember: you can change your vote later if needed

Step 6: Submit Your Vote

1. Click "Submit Ballot"
2. Confirm your choice in the dialog
3. Your ballot is encrypted and sent
4. You'll see a confirmation message

Step 7: Save Your Receipt

After voting, you'll receive a verification receipt:

Ways to save your receipt:

• Click "Download Receipt" to save as a file
• Take a screenshot
• Write down the code in a safe place
• Email it to yourself

After Voting

Confirmation

The vote card will update to show:

• ✓ You voted on this motion
• Your receipt code (for your records)
• Updated participation count

Changing Your Vote

You can change your vote any time before voting closes:

1. Go back to the vote card
2. Click "Update Ballot"
3. Make your new selection
4. Submit again
5. You'll get a new receipt

Your latest vote is the one that counts. Previous votes are discarded.

Monitoring Vote Progress

While voting is open, you can see:

• Participation rate: How many people have voted so far
• Quorum progress: Are we on track to meet the minimum?
• Time remaining: Countdown to close

What you cannot see (for secret ballots):

• How the vote is trending (yes/no split)
• Who voted which way
• How many "yes" vs "no" votes so far

Results are hidden until voting closes to prevent bandwagon effects.

For Quick Polls

Non-binding polls may show results in real-time:

• You can see current standings
• Results update as people vote
• This is fine for informal decisions

When Voting Closes

Automatic Close

At the scheduled close time:

1. Voting immediately stops
2. All ballots are locked
3. System tallies the votes
4. Results are announced (usually within seconds)

Results Notification

You'll get a notification with the outcome:

• Passed: Motion succeeded!
• Failed: Motion did not pass (with reason)
• No quorum: Not enough people voted

Verifying Your Vote

After results are announced, use your receipt to verify:

1. Go to the vote results page
2. Click "Verify Your Vote"
3. Enter your receipt code
4. System checks your ballot was included in the tally
5. You'll see: ✓ Your vote was counted correctly

What verification confirms:

• Your ballot was received
• Your ballot was included in the final count
• The tally math is correct
• No one tampered with results

What verification does not reveal:

• How you actually voted (that stays secret)
• How anyone else voted

Understanding Results

Reading the Results Card

Results show detailed breakdown:

Why Motions Fail

Motions can fail for different reasons:

Quorum Not Met

Not enough people voted:

• E.g., 20% voted but quorum was 25%
• Even if everyone voted "yes," it still fails
• Solution: Better outreach, longer voting period next time

Threshold Not Met

Not enough "yes" votes:

• E.g., good turnout but only 45% voted "yes" (needed 50%)
• The membership voted it down
• This is democracy working—members didn't support it

Tie

Equal yes/no votes:

• Tiebreaker rules apply (set by motion creator)
• Common: status quo wins, or revote required

Best Practices

Vote Thoughtfully

• Read the full motion, not just the title
• Review attachments and supporting documents
• Consider the discussion thread
• Ask questions if anything is unclear

Vote Promptly

• Don't wait until the last minute
• Technical issues happen—vote with time to spare
• Help your union reach quorum early

Encourage Participation

• Remind coworkers when important votes are happening
• Share why the motion matters to you
• Help reach quorum—democracy requires participation

Stay Informed

• Check the governance channel regularly
• Attend union meetings where votes are discussed
• Understand your union's bylaws and voting rules

Voting Tips

Set Reminders

For important votes:

• Add to your calendar
• Set a phone reminder
• Vote early so you don't forget

Mobile Voting

You can vote from your phone:

• Same security as desktop
• Convenient during breaks or commutes
• Make sure you're on WiFi or have good signal

Discuss, Don't Pressure

It's great to discuss motions with coworkers, but:

• Respect that votes are secret for a reason
• Don't pressure people to vote a certain way
• Share your perspective, not demands
• Trust members to make their own decisions

Troubleshooting

Can't See a Vote

If you can't find a vote others are talking about:

• Check if you're in the eligible group (might be scoped to specific worksite)
• Voting may not have opened yet (still in notice period)
• Voting may have already closed
• You might not be verified yet

Vote Not Submitting

• Check your internet connection
• Make sure voting is still open
• Try refreshing the page
• Try a different browser
• Contact moderators if problem persists

Didn't Get a Receipt

If you voted but didn't see a receipt:

• Check if the vote card shows "You voted"
• Look in your notification history
• Your vote likely went through—receipt may have been missed
• Contact moderators if you're unsure

Lost My Receipt

Receipts cannot be re-sent (security feature). Your vote was still counted, but you won't be able to personally verify it. Always save receipts when you vote!

Verification Failed

If your receipt doesn't verify:

• Double-check you entered the code correctly
• Make sure you're checking the right vote
• Make sure you're using the latest receipt (if you changed your vote)
• Report to moderators immediately if error persists

Privacy & Security

How Secret Ballots Work

Your ballot is encrypted on your device before being sent:

1. You select your choice
2. Your device encrypts the vote
3. Encrypted ballot sent with anonymous token
4. System verifies you're eligible (but not how you voted)
5. Ballot stored separately from your identity
6. At close time, votes decrypted and tallied
7. No one can link votes to voters

Protection Against Coercion

The system protects you from pressure:

• You can change your vote anytime
• No way to prove how you voted (even if you wanted to)
• Submission times are randomized
• Even screenshots of receipts don't prove anything (could have changed vote after)

Who Can See What

Everyone can see:

• Motion details and rules
• Total participation rate
• Final results (totals only)
• Who proposed the motion

Only you can see:

• Your receipt code
• Verification of your ballot

No one can see (including admins):

• How any individual voted (secret ballot)
• Links between identities and votes

Next Steps

• Read the Full Voting Guide
• Learn How to Create Motions
• Start participating in your union's democracy!