Votes vs polls
| Votes | Polls | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Formal elections and binding decisions | Quick opinion gathering |
| Anonymity | Anonymous — admins can’t see individual choices | Anonymous |
| Typical use | Board elections, AGM resolutions, bylaw amendments | Event date preferences, feedback, scheduling |
| Formality | Official record | Informal |
Creating a vote
Voting → Create Voting
Write the question
Enter a clear title — “Board Member Election 2025” or “Should we adopt the new bylaws?” You can add multiple questions per vote session (e.g., two board positions in one election).
Add options
Add the choices voters can select from. For elections, these are candidates. For motions, typically Yes / No / Abstain.
Set the schedule
Define when voting opens and closes. The timezone is shown alongside the dates so members in different regions know exactly when the window opens.
Choose who votes
Group vote — all members of a selected group can vote. Private vote — manually select specific voters after creating.
Configure settings
Toggle Real-time results to let voters see running totals while voting is live. Toggle Hide voters list so only admins can see who voted.
The green banner at the bottom confirms: All votes cast by voters are anonymous. Admins can see who voted but never how they voted.
Vote lifecycle
Each vote moves through four phases:| Status | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| Draft | Being set up — not visible to voters |
| Upcoming | Published and scheduled — voters can see it but can’t vote yet |
| Live | Voting is open — members can cast their ballots |
| Closed | Voting period ended — results are final |
Upcoming
Before voting opens, eligible voters can see the questions and options but can’t submit their ballot. The page shows “Result will be available at the end of the voting period.”
Live voting
When the voting window opens, eligible members see the ballot with a Submit vote button. The participation sidebar tracks progress in real time.
Results
When voting closes, results show percentage bars with vote counts for each option, plus participation metrics.Election results
For multi-question elections (like board positions), each question shows its own results:
Motion results
For yes/no motions, results clearly show whether the motion passed:
- Fullscreen — present results on a projector during meetings
- Integrity verification — verify ballot authenticity
- Export results — download as CSV for official records
Vote settings
| Setting | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Start date/time | When voting opens — no votes accepted before this |
| End date/time | When voting closes — no votes accepted after this |
| Timezone | Displayed with dates so members in different regions know the exact window |
| Real-time results | If on, voters can see running totals while voting is live |
| Hide voters list | Only admins can see who voted and who hasn’t |
| Draft mode | Hidden from voters until you publish |
What you can do during each phase
| Phase | Admin actions |
|---|---|
| Draft | Edit everything freely |
| Upcoming | Edit settings, extend dates |
| Live | Monitor participation, send reminders, extend end date, close early |
| Closed | View results, export data, verify integrity |
Who can vote
| Scope | Who’s eligible |
|---|---|
| Group vote | All members of the selected group |
| Private vote | Manually selected voters (add individually or import via CSV) |
Vote collections
When you need multiple related votes — like electing a president, treasurer, and secretary in the same session — group them into a single vote with multiple questions. Members see all questions in one unified voting experience, completing all ballots in one session.Security and anonymity
What admins can see
- Who has voted (participation tracking with checkmarks)
- Who hasn’t voted (to send targeted reminders)
- Aggregate results (totals, percentages, bars)
What admins cannot see
- How any individual member voted
- Individual ballot choices
How it’s enforced
- One vote per person — the system prevents duplicate voting
- Anonymous ballots — votes are stored separately from voter identity
- Time-bound — votes only accepted during the designated period
- Sealed ballots — each ballot gets a cryptographic seal for integrity verification
Integrity verification
After voting closes, voters can verify their ballot wasn’t tampered with using a validation code:
Common scenarios
A member says they can't vote
A member says they can't vote
Check: Is the member’s account active? Are they in the eligible group for this vote? Is the voting period open? Have they already voted? Members who’ve already cast a vote see a confirmation instead of the ballot.
Low participation — how do I get more people to vote?
Low participation — how do I get more people to vote?
The voters list shows exactly who hasn’t voted yet — send them targeted reminders. Announce the vote in advance via newsletter. Keep the voting window long enough to accommodate different schedules and time zones.
I need to change something on a live vote
I need to change something on a live vote
You can extend the deadline or close early. You can’t change the question or options once votes are cast. For significant corrections, close the current vote and create a new one with proper explanation.
Our bylaws require a 2/3 majority — how do I enforce this?
Our bylaws require a 2/3 majority — how do I enforce this?
Orgo shows raw results (vote counts and percentages). You interpret whether the threshold was met based on your organization’s rules. Document the outcome in the Official Gazette for the formal record.
Can we do secret ballot elections?
Can we do secret ballot elections?
Yes — all votes in Orgo are anonymous by default. Admins see participation (who voted) but never individual choices. Sealed ballots with integrity verification provide an additional layer of trust.
I want to show live results during our AGM
I want to show live results during our AGM
Enable Real-time results when creating the vote. Use the Fullscreen button to display results on a projector. As votes come in, the percentage bars update live.
Related
- Events — Link votes to AGMs and conferences
- Official Gazette — Publish election results formally
- Notifications — Send voting reminders