Three optional settings are available for each question on your ballot; you can select one or more of the following:

Important Things to Know

The voting system you select for each question determines which settings you can use.

Selecting Settings for Ballot Questions

To select a setting for a question, select the appropriate box on the Ballot page:

Random Order

The choices listed first on a ballot often receive more votes simply because of their position on the ballot, especially if voters aren't familiar with the choices. This is called the Ballot Order Effect.

Using the Random Order setting eliminates the Ballot Order Effect by displaying choices in a different order on each voter's ballot:

Compatible Voting Systems

The Random Order setting can be added to questions using the following voting systems:

  • Plurality

  • Preferential

  • Cumulative

  • Scored

Ask for Comments

Using the Ask For Comments setting allows your voters to add comments or notes to a question, in addition to selecting choices. It's useful for things like collecting voter feedback or suggestions. All voter comments are displayed in the election results:

Compatible Voting Systems

The Ask For Comments setting can be added to questions using the following voting systems:

  • Plurality

  • Preferential

  • Cumulative

  • Scored

  • Approval

Allow Abstain

Using the Allow Abstain setting adds Abstain as a choice to your questions. You can use it to allow your voters to choose not to vote on a specific question, versus choosing to not submit a ballot:

Selecting the Allow Abstain setting only affects individual questions, not the entire ballot. Voters can abstain from one or more questions but still vote on the remaining questions.

Compatible Voting Systems

The "Allow Abstain" setting can be added to questions using all available voting systems.

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