Election Runner

Election Runner is election software for schools and organizations that want to run votes online. It is strongest for small groups that can manage voter credentials and ballot setup themselves; its free allowance is useful, but larger electorates pay for each election.

Overview

Voters can participate from a browser or Election Runner’s iOS and Android apps, making it practical for organizations whose members are not in one place. The service combines ballot creation, scheduled or immediate launches, and live result monitoring in one workflow. Basic voter authentication is a constraint for groups with more demanding access requirements.

Key features

Administrators can add questions and candidate or measure options, with photos or short biographies, then apply their organization’s logo and colors without writing HTML or CSS. Importing voter lists and ballots from Excel or CSV can cut down on repeated data entry. Each voter receives a unique Voter ID and Voter Key and can vote once.

Election Runner supports ranked-choice ballots, an audit trail, automatic result calculations, chart displays, and CSV result export. Administrators can schedule opening and closing times or launch immediately, then monitor results in real time. These capabilities suit structured organizational elections better than an informal poll, though basic authentication may be insufficient where stronger voter verification is needed.

The maker says the service uses SSL-grade security with 256-bit encryption. By default, administrators cannot see how an individual voter voted, a useful separation between ballot privacy and election administration. The voting application targets Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 AA compliance. The maker also says support averages an eight-minute response time during business hours. Voting instructions can be sent through third-party email services such as MailChimp and Constant Contact.

Pricing

The free plan costs nothing and covers elections with up to 20 voters. That is a meaningful option for small committees or school groups, but the cap makes it unsuitable for larger electorates.

The Up to 100 voters plan costs $19, paid once, billed per election and payable when launched. Up to 300 voters costs $36, paid once on the same per-election, pay-when-you-launch basis. These tiers let organizations match the charge to each election rather than a recurring subscription, but the cost rises with voter count and applies again for another election. Over 300 voters has custom pricing calculated from eligible voter count, so larger organizations should establish the cost before choosing it. Special subscription pricing is offered for K-12 and higher education institutions.

Platforms

Election Runner supports web, Android, and iOS. Voters can use a browser or the mobile apps, which gives participants more than one way to cast a ballot.

Who it's for

Schools, associations, and other organizations with defined voter lists are the natural audience, particularly those running occasional elections with 20 or fewer voters or modestly sized paid elections. Groups that need more than basic voter authentication, or that expect large electorates and want predictable costs before counting eligible voters, should compare other options.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free elections for up to 20 voters make small-scale use possible without a per-election charge.
• Pros: Spreadsheet imports, branded ballots, scheduling, and automatic charts support an end-to-end election workflow without requiring HTML or CSS skills.
• Pros: One-vote credentials, default privacy from administrators, ranked choice, audit trail, and CSV export provide useful controls and post-election access.
• Cons: Basic authentication may not meet organizations’ stronger identity or access-control needs.
• Cons: The free tier stops at 20 voters, and paid pricing is charged per election, so repeat use and larger voter counts bring additional costs.

Alternatives

Online Voting Software is a useful directory starting point for comparing election tools across the category. Consider AssociationVoting if its free tier for 1–25 eligible voters better fits a small association election; its 26–125 voter tier is $99 per election. ElectionBuddy is another freemium option for readers comparing meeting and election voting tools.

SnapBallot may suit a very small vote: its free plan covers up to 15 voters and 3 voter emails, while 16–250 voters costs $49 per election. ElectIQ is another freemium choice, with a free plan listed in EUR. POLYAS offers a free Standard online-voting tier up to 50 voters, though features and service are not included in that tier.

Simply Voting has a free option for elections with 10 electors or fewer. VoteAlly may appeal to groups seeking an ongoing free plan, with 50 eligible voters per session, two active sessions, and one admin seat. VoterTerminal is worth considering for readers who prefer a self-hosted option; its free self-hosted plan includes unlimited elections and voters.

Verdict

Choose Election Runner for a school or organization that wants branded, configurable ballots, one-vote credentials, and live results, especially when its electorate fits the free 20-voter limit or a modest per-election tier. Its main appeal is a coherent self-managed election workflow; look elsewhere if basic authentication is not enough or if per-election pricing at a larger voter count is a poor fit.