ElectionBuddy

ElectionBuddy is an online voting service for organizations running elections, votes and meetings in person or remotely. It is strongest for groups that need configurable ballots, several voting rules and reviewable results. Its per-election options cover a wide range of voter counts, though the free plans are tightly capped and long-term result storage can add a subscription.

Overview

The service handles voter notifications, vote collection, counting and announcing winners. Participants can vote by cellphone, computer, tablet or mail, so organizations can include people attending a meeting as well as those joining remotely.

ElectionBuddy’s breadth is most useful when a group has specific election rules or needs a record that can be examined after a vote. Its many voting methods and ballot controls offer more flexibility than a basic poll; for a small, uncomplicated choice, that range may be unnecessary.

Key features

Voting methods and ballots

Voting systems include first past the post, cumulative, preferential ballot, STV, scored voting, rating scale and approval voting. Ballots can cover multiple vacancies, randomize candidate or question order, edit descriptions, highlight amendments and show struck-out words. Organizers can also attach documents and website links. This is a strong fit for formal elections with established rules, but it puts the responsibility on organizers to select a method that matches those rules.

Notices, integrations and administration

Voters can be reached by email, mail or text, or through an organization’s website, e-newsletter or existing systems. Listed integrations include Microsoft Azure SSO, WordPress, Zapier and Zoom. APIs can add voter lists, administrators, departments and organizations; webhooks can update external systems when voters vote or register. These options are most relevant to organizations integrating elections into established processes, rather than groups seeking only a standalone ballot.

Security, records and support

ElectionBuddy forces HTTPS with TLS and HSTS, is PCI DSS compliant, and encrypts payment data before sending it to Stripe. Customers own account data, which is not purged during the account lifetime and can be exported in XML, CSV or Microsoft Excel formats. Results and the voting process can be independently reviewed and downloaded for inquiries or recounts while protecting voter anonymity. Email support comes with subscriptions; phone support is included with Expert Setup services.

Pricing

ElectionBuddy uses free and pay-per-use plans, plus annual subscriptions. The free MeetingVote plan costs nothing and allows up to 20 voters and 5 motions per meeting. Free ElectionVote also costs nothing, caps participation at 20 voters and provides results access for 30 days. These are useful for small or occasional votes, but the voter ceiling is restrictive for larger organizations, and retaining results beyond 30 days requires a storage plan.

The $27 a year Storage Subscription stores results after 30 days and allows sharing results and downloading reports. The $279 a year Platinum Subscription includes results storage and 3 administrators, with voter credits at $59 per 500. Those recurring plans make sense for organizations that need lasting records or multiple administrators; they are a separate ongoing cost from individual election or meeting plans.

For ElectionVote, Plus costs $29, paid once for up to 350 voters, with SMS Notice as a $29 add-on. Premium costs $99, paid once for up to 1,000 voters, includes 3 reminders and SMS Notice, while Professional costs $299, paid once for up to 100,000 voters, 10 reminders, API access and webhooks. The higher tiers suit larger elections or organizations needing automation; smaller groups can avoid paying for capacity they will not use.

For MeetingVote, Plus costs $197, paid once for up to 75 voters and 20 motions per meeting. Premium costs $397, paid once for up to 350 voters and 30 motions; Professional costs $797, paid once for up to 20,000 voters and unlimited motions. The appropriate tier depends on both attendance and agenda size, so a group should compare both limits rather than choosing on voter count alone.

Platforms

ElectionBuddy is available on Android, iOS and the web. Participants can also vote by mail, which extends participation beyond app and browser access.

Who it's for

Professional associations, unions, universities, homeowner associations, schools, political parties, governments, churches and companies are among the organizations that use the platform. Its mix of voting rules, notices and auditable results makes it a particularly good fit for groups that need to document formal decisions. It is less compelling for a one-off, simple vote with few participants and no need to retain reports.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad voting-system support and customizable ballots accommodate formal election rules and complex motions.
• Pros: Anonymous, independently reviewable results can be downloaded for recounts and inquiries.
• Pros: Multiple notice channels, integrations, APIs and webhooks can fit elections into organizational workflows.
• Cons: Free plans stop at 20 voters, with MeetingVote also limited to 5 motions per meeting.
• Cons: Free ElectionVote results are accessible for 30 days; longer retention requires a separate subscription.
• Cons: Phone support is tied to Expert Setup services rather than included with subscriptions generally.

Alternatives

Compare online voting software if you want to consider a wider set of services. AssociationVoting is another freemium option for web, Android and iOS, with a free tier for 1–25 eligible voters and a $99 per election tier for 26–125 voters; consider it when those election-size bands suit your group. SnapBallot offers a free election for up to 15 voters and a $49, paid once tier for 16–250 voters, making it an alternative for groups whose needs fall within those limits.

Election Runner offers a free election for up to 20 voters and a $19, paid once tier for up to 100 voters, so it is worth comparing for a small election. Simply Voting has a free tier for elections with 10 electors or less; its self-administered elections use election-sized fees, so consider it for a very small electorate or when comparing that pricing approach. CharterVote has a free web-based Starter plan for up to 25 eligible voters per election, making it a narrower alternative for a small group.

ElectionChamp offers a free-forever plan for up to 20 voters per election with email and SMS notifications and one reminder, so it may suit groups that want those functions at that scale. OpaVote supports up to 3 simultaneous free elections, each with up to 25 voters and 10 candidates, email notices and data retained for up to 10 weeks; consider it if those caps fit. VoteHost Elections is a free, web-based option for Linux or self-hosted environments.

Verdict

ElectionBuddy is a strong choice for organizations that need more than a simple ballot: it combines varied voting systems, multiple ways to reach voters and reviewable, downloadable results. Its per-use plans give groups room to select capacity for a particular election, while the free voter caps and separate storage subscriptions are real constraints. Choose it when ballot flexibility and an auditable record justify those costs; look elsewhere for a small, simple vote where a 20-voter free tier is enough and long-term records are not a concern.