Online voting has become the go-to election model for member-based organizations worldwide. 

Private elections serve a variety of important functions. For the most part, these races will decide who sits on the board of an organization, the fate of a new union contract, or whether members agree on initiatives designed to improve the lives of the entire group.

There's a good chance your organization hires a professional election management agency. If so, these generally operate in-house election software, managing everything from nominations and security to engagement and vote tabulations. It's no surprise that elections can be challenging, especially given the sheer number of votes needed to be processed. It's one of the reasons why large member organizations outsource elections. Smaller groups, however, may prefer trimmed-down, do-it-yourself programs providing comparatively less services, yet just enough to help you get by.

Selecting the appropriate voting method for an election is perhaps the most significant decision a member-based organization can make prior to operating these all-important contests.

Each year, member-based organizations meticulously prepare for critical elections that determine the fate of a variety of races and measures. At the heart of these contests are hard-working members casting ballots to decide who will hold key positions, and the policies that will affect them, personally.

Member-based organizations hold annual elections for myriad reasons: choosing new board members, internal referendums, union contracts, and much more.